Brazil Para-Badminton International: Odia para-shuttler Pramod Bhagat storms into singles and doubles finals

Ace para-shuttler from Odisha, Pramod Bhagat stormed into the finals of the singles and doubles categories in the ongoing Brazil Para-Badminton International Tournament 2023 in Sau Paulo on Sunday.

Pramod won a hard-fought semifinal encounter against Japan’s Daisuke Fujihara to book a berth in the singles final. 

The keenly contested match lasted for 86 minutes and swung both ways with Fujihara taking the first set 21-19. Pramod made a strong comeback in the second set by winning it 21-19 and pushing the match to the third set. The star para-shuttler from Odisha showcased his exceptional skill and strategy wrapping up the set 21-12. The final score read 19-21, 21-19 and 21-12 in Pramod’s favour.

Fujihara threw everything he had in his arsenal, but Pramod had all the answers. The ace para-shuttler will lock horns with compatriot Kumar Nitesh in the final.

In the doubles category, Pramod and his partner Sukant Kadam beat India’s Kumar Nitesh and Tarun to book a place in the summit clash. Pramod and Sukant had a dominating display as the duo defeated their Indian counterpart in straight sets. The score line read 21-17 and 21-16. Pramod and Sukant will now face Korea’s Joo Dongjae and Shin Kyung Hwan in the all-important final.

Meanwhile, Odisha’s Dillaswar Rao and his partner Naveen Sivakumar went down fighting against Korea’s Joo Dongjae and Shin Kyung Hwan in the doubles semifinal. The 23-minute match ended with score line of 12-21 and 15-21.