Pramod Bhagat won gold as Odisha para shuttlers dominated
Pramod Bhagat led an exceptional medal run for India at the Japan Para Badminton International 2026, capturing the top podium spot in the Men’s Singles SL3 event. Shuttlers with roots in Odisha made a lasting mark on the international stage by claiming silverware across singles and doubles competitions. Bhagat defeated fellow countryman Umesh Vikram Kumar in straight games with a 21–16, 21–08 scoreline, wrapping up the title contest in just 30 minutes. Umesh started with fierce momentum and built an early five-point cushion in the opening game. Bhagat relied on his seasoned match awareness to shift the tempo, erase the deficit, and claim the lead. During the second game, Bhagat dominated from the first rally, never allowing his opponent space to mount a comeback.
Bhagat returned to the court alongside Sukant Kadam for the Men’s Doubles SL3-SU5 final, earning a silver medal after going down against Indonesia’s top-seeded pair, Hikmat Ramdani and Fredy Setiawan. The Indonesian duo pushed hard from the start to take the opening set 21–05. While Bhagat and Kadam showed greater resistance in the next game, Ramdani and Setiawan sealed the victory 21–05, 21–15.
Odisha’s Deep Ranjan Bisoyee and Kuldeep Mahakul added to the medal tally by collecting bronze in the same Men’s Doubles category. The pair progressed to the semifinals before losing 21–13, 21–11 against Ramdani and Setiawan. Odisha has steadily turned into an influential breeding ground for elite para sports talent, supported by high-performance training centers that consistently prepare athletes for major global events.
