Paris 2024 Paralympics, September 2, Live Updates: Battling For Badminton Gold, Nitesh Kumar Leads Decider

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: 5 POINT LEAD!

Nitesh is going from strength to strength. Daniel Bethell firmly on the back foot. It is 17-12 in the final and the gold medal is in sight for the Indian.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: 3 POINT LEAD!

Nitesh Kumar has raced into a 15-12 lead in the deciding game! Can he hold his nerve this time? India waits to celebrate.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Nitesh leads at halfway!

Once again, for the third time, it is Nitesh Kumar who leads at the halfway mark. 11-10 in favour of the Indian. Minute margins in the men’s singles SL3 para badminton final.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: 8-8!

Neck-and-neck, as you would expect. Nitesh and Bethell are taking this to the distance.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: 6-5 lead for Bethell

Much like the second game, this one also looks set to go down to the wire. Points being exchanged at the moment, but the British second seed holds the small lead.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Shooting starts

Meanwhile, the Mixed 25m Pistol Qualification Rapid event has resumed. Two Indians vying for a spot in the final:

1. Nihal Singh, currently 4th

2. Amir Ahmad Bhat, currently 8th

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Bethell up 3-2

Daniel Bethell leads the third and deciding game 3-2 in the early moments. Good start for the Briton.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Huge test for Nitesh

The 29-year-old will rue not finishing the match in the second game, but he needs to put it all behind now and start afresh for the third and final game. This has been a marathon match that has gone on for over an hour already.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Nitesh loses the second game

Oh will Nitesh come back to regret that? 18-17 up at one stage, but he loses four points in a row to Bethell, who takes the second game.

The gold medal match will go to a deciding game!

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Bethell leads

Bethell wins two points in a row, and now leads 19-18. Nitesh on the back foot for the first time in a long while in the second game. Remember, if Nitesh wins the game, he wins gold.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: 18-17!

Three points away from gold, but these moments will seem to go by very slowly for Nitesh Kumar. India waits, India expects!

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: 16-16!

Bethell is not willing to surrender. This second game is going down to the wire and Nitesh will have to hold his nerve if he wants that gold medal.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Crucial point for Nitesh!

Yes! Nitesh takes the next point. Maintains a slender lead and breaks Bethell’s short spell of momentum.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Bethell makes it 14-14

Three points in quick succession for Daniel Bethell. This will be the ultimate test of Nitesh’s resilience and mentality. Can he hold firm?

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Maintaining the gap

Nitesh Kumar continues to maintain the gap. Never resting on his laurels. 14-11 lead now for the Indian, over second seed Daniel Bethell in the final.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Nitesh leads at halfway!

Nitesh leads at the halfway point in the second game. 11-8. A crucial 3-point advantage for the Indian. Remember, if Nitesh wins this game, Nitesh wins gold.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Nitesh’s best trait

Perhaps the most impressive thing about Nitesh in this final has been that he has not let Bethell feel the momentum. Whenever the Briton gets a point, Nitesh fights back almost immediately.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Nitesh 7-5 up

Bethell receiving instructions from his coach and Nitesh continues to win more points. Still far from over, this tie.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Half-court games

To those unfamiliar, the men’s singles para badminton SL3 games happen on just one half of the court. 

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Nitesh roars back!

4-3! Nitesh Kumar, time and again, proving his skill. Two points in a row to take the lead in the second game. Excellent from the man aiming to be India’s second gold medalist of Paralympics 2024.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Bethell leads 3-2

Much like the first game, an early lead for Daniel Bethell. The Brit is executing his smashes well in a must-win game for him.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: More on Daniel Bethell

Bethell, 28, was also the silver medalist in this category in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Unless he scripts a major comeback, he is set to repeat that feat.

The second game is underway!

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Nitesh wins first game!

A fantastic end to the first game for Nitesh Kumar. He takes it 21-14, and that is one hand on the gold medal. Vital.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: 1 point away

Daniel Bethell has not dropped a single game in Paralympics 2024 men’s singles SL3, but Nitesh Kumar is on the verge of breaking that streak. 6 GAME POINTS!

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Nitesh leads 18-14

A very crucial lead late in the first game for Nitesh. He is eyeing a 1-0 lead in the final now. A 4-point advantage will be a difficult one for Bethell to claw back.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: 3 successive points for Nitesh

The 29-year-old first seed once again making a comeback in the final. He had gone down 11-13, but then won three points in a row to retake the lead. At the moment, it is 15-14 for the Indian.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Shooting from 4:30 PM

The last portion of the mixed 25m pistol SH1 Qualification rapid is set to start at 4:30 PM IST. Currently, India have two representatives in the top 8: Nihal Singh in 4th and Amir Ahmad Bhat in 8th.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Bethell equalises

Bethell has shown his intent right after the restart. He makes it 11-11 in the final. This match looks to be going down to the wire.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Nitesh leads at halfway!

Another long, long rally really testing the endurance and skill of the two finalists but Nitesh holds his nerve. 5 points in a row to take an 11-9 lead in the first game.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Great comeback by Nitesh!

It’s 10-9 in the final! Trailing 6-9 not too long ago, the first seed Indian makes a superb comeback. He takes the lead in a crucial stage.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Prosthetics

Nitesh is armed with a prosthetic on his left leg. A trained engineer, the 29-year-old suffered a tragic train accident during his college years. 

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Bethell leads 8-6

The British para badminton star continues to hold a small advantage. He leads 8-6 in the final over Nitesh.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Bethell coming back

Britain’s Daniel Bethell makes a strong comeback, and now holds a 6-5 lead in the men’s singles SL3 para badminton final.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: 4-3

This is seemingly going to be a marathon final. Neither player giving an inch. Back-and-forth between the two, but Nitesh holds a small advantage.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Nitesh retakes lead

A very long rally between Nitesh and Bethell, but it is the Indian who comes out on top in that. 3-2.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: 2-2

Nitesh takes a 2-0 lead, but Bethell fights back to equalize it at 2-2. Even start to proceedings.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: First point for Nitesh

A good omen to start the final. First seed Nitesh Kumar gets the first point in the men’s singles SL3 final.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: We are underway!

Nitesh Kumar vs Daniel Bethell: Men’s Singles SL4 para badminton Final. WE ARE LIVE!

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Who else can get gold?

India badminton stars who are fighting for gold today:

1) Nitesh Kumar – Men’s Singles SL3

2) Suhas Yathiraj – Men’s Singles SL4

3) Thulasimathi Murugesan – Women’s Singles SU5

India badminton stars who are fighting for bronze today:

1) Sukant Kadam – Men’s Singles SL4

2) Manisha Ramadass – Women’s Singles SU5

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: India’s only gold so far

Avani Lekhara scripted history on Day 2 when she won India’s first gold of Paralympics 2024. Now, Nitesh Kumar will be aiming to be the first of three badminton stars looking to join that list.