Nitesh Kumar etched his name in history by clinching a gold medal at the Paris Paralympics on Monday, defeating Great Britain’s Daniel Bethell in a thrilling final of the men’s singles SL3 category. This victory places him alongside Pramod Bhagat, who won gold in the same category at the Tokyo Paralympics, in the elite group of Indian men to achieve this feat.
Competing in the SL3 category, which features shuttlers with significant lower limb disabilities, Nitesh’s journey to the top has been one of perseverance and resilience. Born in Bas Kirtan, Rajasthan, and currently residing in Karnal, Haryana, the 30-year-old’s life took a dramatic turn in 2009 when he lost his left leg in a train accident in Visakhapatnam, leaving him bedridden for months.
The son of a navy officer, Nitesh once aspired to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the defense forces. Though the accident dashed those dreams, he remained undeterred and began preparing for the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) entrance exams. A visit to the Artificial Limbs Centre in Pune, where he saw war veterans pushing their limits despite their injuries, reignited his determination to overcome his own challenges. Today, his triumph at the Paralympics stands as a testament to his unwavering spirit.