Also Read: Preethi creates history in 200m; Nishad wins second successive silver in high jump

Nitesh with his gold medal

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The opening game saw Nitesh trailing 6-9 at one point, but his rock-solid defense allowed him to claw back, entering the break with a two-point cushion. He then surged ahead to 18-14 and eventually win it.  Nitesh could have won in straight games as he was leading 14-12 at one stage but Bethell staged a comeback, to force the decider. In the final game, both athletes matched each other point for point, moving from 8-8 to 19-19. Nitesh had the first championship point at 20-19, but couldn’t convert. Bethell, too, had a match point at 21-20, but faltered. 

Finally, the Indian seized his opportunity, as Bethell hit long and wide. “I have lost in such situations against him and I didn’t want to make the same mistakes. I had lost my calm in the past, so I told myself that I should keep fighting for each point. At 19-20 in the decider also I told myself to stick in there and make him earn the point. I usually don’t play with such patience and trust my strokes as they are deceptive, but when I started in the first game here, I planned that I have to play the first few points well to get comfortable. Then I can play my strokes.”

A navy officer’s son, Nitesh had once dreamed of following in his father’s footsteps and joining the defence forces. However, the accident shattered those dreams. At a visit to the Artificial Limbs Centre in Pune, he witnessed war veterans pushing their limits despite their injuries. This reignited his determination to overcome his own challenges. Nitesh made his para debut at the 2016 Nationals in Faridabad. He won three medals at the 2022 Asian Para Games.

Indians in action today

Para shooting
Women’s 50m air rifle 3 positions SH1 qualification: Mona Agarwal, Avani Lekhara… 13:00

Para Archery
Women’s individual recurve 1/8 elimination: Pooja... 15:20

Para athletics
Women’s shot put F34 final: Bhagyashri Madhavrao Jadhav… 14:28
Men’s high jump T63 final: Sharad Kumar, Mariyappan Thangavelu, Shailesh Kumar… 23:50
Men’s javelin throw F46 final: Ajeet Singh, Rinku, Sundar Singh Gurjar… 23:50

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