"A gold medal gives you wings to fly" - Nitesh Kumar on becoming a Paralympic champion, his bond with Pramod Bhagat and more [Exclusive]
When Nitesh Kumar commenced his journey at the Paris Paralympics 2024, not many eyes were on him. By the time the competition ended, the para-shuttler had become the toast of the town. Such is the shine of a Paralympic gold, that it brings with it unparalleled adulation.
Winning the title in men's singles of SL3 category, Kumar was hailed for his dominance and perseverance on the badminton court. The 29-year-old feels his triumph holds the power to change everything for him going forward. Nitesh was in a conversation with Sportskeeda on the sidelines of a felicitation ceremony for Paralympians in Delhi.
"As a young kid I used to think that when an athlete wins a gold medal it gives them wings to fly. Now, I believe it. All the love and praise is still sinking in. I now feel I am about to rise as a gold medalist from here on. But for me, staying grounded and true to myself is paramount," said Nitesh.
Nitesh Kumar has always spoken highly of one of his greatest inspirations and compatriots, Pramod Bhagat. Kumar had previously stated that the absence of Pramod meant India lost a medal. However, he is extremely happy to have continued on Bhagat's legacy.
"When para-badminton was first added at 2020 Tokyo, Pramod Bhaiya won gold. That's when the seed of my dream was first sowed. I could not hold back from calling him after my victory. I told him 'the gold now stays in India for 4 years and we will together bring the country more medals from LA'," he expressed.
"I knew I will likely face Daniel in the final" - Nitesh Kumar opens up on his strategy prior to the gold-medal match
Champion players are those who are not only strong in their skills but also smart in their mind. Nitesh Kumar had chalked out his path to success in Paris and worked towards making all the right moves. Kumar knew he will compete against Great Britain's Daniel Bethell in the final and planned his training accordingly.
"Somewhere before landing in Paris, we knew that I will most likely face Daniel in the final. All the training drills were fine tuned accordingly. I could sense during the finals that he was under pressure. From there on, it was my preperation that helped me sail through," shared Nitesh.
The moment of victory was of such glee for the Rajasthan-born player that it took some time for it to sink in.
"The immediate feeling was not that I've won gold but just the excitement of winning the match. I was so invested that I was unaware of everything surrounding me. I then saw all the Indian supporters standing in applause. From there it sank in and the celebrations began," he concluded.
Nitesh Kumar deserves all the love and applause he is being showered with. India will be hoping for him to get back on the court soon and bring more glory.