‘Virat Kohli is My Hero’: Paralympics Gold Medallist Nitesh Kumar in Awe of India Batter’s

Shuttler Nitesh Kumar clinched a historic gold at the Paralympics, defeating Great Britain’s Daniel Bethell in a gripping men’s singles SL3 badminton final on Monday. The 29-year-old from Haryana showcased incredible resilience and tactical brilliance, overcoming Tokyo silver medallist Bethell in a nail-biting contest that lasted an hour and 20 minutes, with the final scoreline reading 21-14 18-21 23-21.

Speaking after an intense final, Kumar said he draws inspiration from ace Indian batter Virat Kohli, especially how he keeps himself fit to compete at the highest level.

“Virat Kohli is my hero because the way he channels all his energy and effort into staying fit is truly inspiring,” Kumar told Jio Cinema.

Speaking to RevSportz Global after clinching Gold, Kumar said all his hard work and sacrifices crossed through his mind when he was on the podium.

“I can’t express it [my feelings] in words. I’m having goosebumps all over my body. I had a flashback of the whole journey while standing on the podium about how tough it had been in the last 2-2.5 years; playing tournaments, managing everything and sacrificing my time with the family. But now feel immensely proud of myself that I’ve something for the country,” Kumar told RevSportz.

His victory on Monday not only marked a personal triumph but also ensured that India retained the SL3 gold, which Pramod Bhagat had won three years ago when badminton made its Paralympic debut in Tokyo.

Kumar had a word with Bhagat who was emotional as the gold was coming back to India.

“Pramod Bhaiya didn’t want to put too much pressure on me. He just asked to go out there and defend his title. After winning the gold, I had a quick chat with him and he was pretty emotional as his medal was defended and it was coming to India,” he added.

A navy officer’s son, Nitesh had once dreamed of following in his father’s footsteps and joining the defence forces. However, the accident shattered those dreams. It was a visit to the Artificial Limbs Centre in Pune, where he witnessed war veterans pushing their limits despite their injuries, that reignited his determination to overcome his challenges.

Nitesh made his para-badminton debut at the 2016 Nationals in Faridabad, where he won a bronze. His rise continued on the global stage as well. He won three medals, including a silver in singles, at the Asian Para Games in 2022.