Bhubaneswar: Ace Odisha Para shuttler Pramod Bhagat, representing India has made history by winning his sixth world title in men’s SL3 para badminton at the BWF Para World Championships in Manama, Bahrain.
The 37-year-old Bhagat defeated Indonesia’s Muhammad Al Imran 21-12, 21-18 in the final, securing his fourth consecutive singles gold at the world championships.
Bhagat, who contracted polio at age five, has been dominating the SL3 division, which is for standing players with significant lower limb impairments. This victory surpasses China’s Lin Dan, who won five men’s singles world titles in able-bodied badminton, making Bhagat the most decorated singles champion in world championship history ¹ ² ³.
Bhagat also won the men’s doubles SL3-SL4 title with Sukant Kadam, defeating fellow Indians J. Dilli and N. Sivakumar 21-19, 21-16 in the final, completing a golden double.
Other Indian medalists include N. Sivakumar, who finished runner-up in men’s singles SL4, M. Ramadass, who settled for silver in women’s singles SU5, and N. Sumathy Sivan, who finished runner-up in women’s singles SH6
