Paralympic and World champion Pramod Bhagat made Odisha proud, bagging one gold and two bronze medals for the country in the 4th Asian Para Games which is underway in Hangzhou, China from 22 October 2023.

Para badminton ace Bhagat capped his campaign with the men SL3 singles gold medal at BJ Gymnasium, Hangzhou today. He, infact, retained the title, defeating fellow Indian Kumar Nitesh in the exciting final 22-20, 18-21, 21-19.

Earlier, Bhagat won the two bronze medals by reaching semifinals in mixed doubles SL3-SU5 and men doubles SL3-SL4 category respectively. In the mixed doubles semifinal, Bhagat and Tamil Nadu partner Manisha Ramadass lost to Indonesian pair of Hikmat Ramdani and Leani Ratri Oktila 19-21, 14-21 on October 25.

In men doubles semifinals, Bhagat and his partner Sukant Kadam from Maharashtra went down fighting to Indonesian duo, Dwiyoko and Fredy Setiawan 22-20, 21-23, 21-21. With these three medals, the total number of medals for Bhagat at the Asian Para Games became six, which include two gold and four bronze.

Bhagat participated in the Asian Para Games for the first time in 2020 and returned home empty handed. In the 2014 edition the continental Para Games, he contended himself with one bronze medal in mens singles.

Bhagat won his first Asian Para Games gold medal in men singles at the 2018 edition in Jakarta, Indonesia. He also claimed the doubles bronze medal in 3rd edition. Improving upon his performance in each edition of the prestigious Games, Bhagat has achieved his best in Hangzhou with three medals to his name.

Bhagat is the only sportsperson among seven from Odisha to have won a medal at the ongoing 4th Asian Para Games. Other six are: Jayanti Behera (Para athletics), Soundarya Kumar Pradhan (Blind chess) and Rakhal Kumar Sethy, V Ramesh Rao, Prafulla Khandayatray and Pujaswini Nayak (all wheelchair fencing).

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a cash award of Rs 2 crore for Bhagat for his outstanding performance in the 4th Para Asian Games.
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PHOTO: Odisha ace Pramod Bhagat poses with his three medals at the 4th Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China on 27 October 2023.