Odisha shuttler Pramod Bhagat bags silver in Nagoya

Odisha’s veteran para-badminton star Pramod Bhagat clinched silver in the Men’s Singles SL3 category at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games on Friday. He faced fellow Indian shuttler Nitesh Kumar in a closely contested final match. Nitesh claimed gold by defeating the defending champion in straight games, recording scores of 21–18 and 21–16 to reach the top podium position. Reaching this final was significant for Indian para-badminton, ensuring two national players dominated the prestigious continental event. Pramod entered the tournament as the defending two-time champion, having previously won gold in this exact category during both the 2018 Jakarta and 2022 Hangzhou editions. During the Hangzhou finals, he successfully defeated Nitesh. However, Nitesh reversed the outcome this year in Japan with a highly controlled performance. Hailing from Odisha, Padma Shri awardee Pramod has continuously elevated the state's sporting profile through consistent international victories and remains one of India's most decorated Paralympic athletes.

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Finishing the tournament with multiple honors, Pramod earlier secured bronze in the Mixed Doubles event alongside partner Manisha Ramadass. This singles silver medal brings his total tally to two for the 2026 campaign. Officials from the Para Sports Association of Odisha formally congratulated both players for their exceptional performances, celebrating their continued dedication to Indian sports on the global stage.