Para World C’ships: Triple treat for para shuttlers

Pattaya, February 25

India’s Suhas Yathiraj, Pramod Bhagat and Krishna Nagar capped their impressive runs by securing gold medals at the Para Badminton World Championships here today.

World No. 3 Yathiraj, a Paralympics silver medallist, outwitted Indonesia’s Fredy Setiawan 21-18 21-18 in the men’s singles SL4 final for his maiden world title.

“Gold it is, happy and proud to be world champion,” the 40-year-old Yathiraj, who hails from Karnataka and is an IAS officer of the 2007 batch of Uttar Pradesh cadre, posted online.

Tokyo Paralympics gold medallist Bhagat, who won one gold and two bronze medals at the Para Asian Games, edged out England’s Daniel Bethell 14-21 21-15 21-14 in the men’s singles SL3 final.

“This win holds a very special place in my heart for various reasons,” said the Bihar-born shuttler. “I have managed to equal my idol Lin Dan’s record of five World Championships gold medals in singles and to win three consecutive titles,” he added.

Apart from the gold, the 35-year-old also won bronze medals in the men’s doubles and mixed doubles. The three medals took his tally to 14.

In the men’s singles SH6 category, Krishna, a Paralympics gold medal winner, prevailed 22-20 22-20 over China’s Lin Naili.

In women’s singles SU5, Manisha Ramadass signed off with a silver medal after losing 16-21 16-21 to China’s Yang Qiu Xia.