Top 5 tips to get started in Para badminton from gold medal collector Bhagat

Pramod Bhagat, who won a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, says working hard and having confidence in yourself are the keys to success in Para badminton, a sport he has enjoyed for more than 20 years 18 Nov 2022
Imagen
A male athlete pumps his right fist, while holding a badminton racket with the other hand
Pramod Bhagat has won Paralympic gold and multiple world titles.
ⒸKiyoshi Ota/Getty Images
By PARA SPORT

India's Pramod Bhagat started playing Para badminton about two decades ago, and since then, he has taken the sports world by storm.

The 34-year-old, who contracted polio at age five that affected his left leg, has been one of the most successful Para badminton players with gold medals at the World Championships and the Paralympic Games.

Most recently, Bhagat won gold in the men’s singles SL3 and a silver in the men’s doubles SL3-SL4 at the 2022 BWF Para Badminton World Championships, which were held in Tokyo, Japan between 1-6 November. 

In the singles final, he beat his teammate Kumar Nitesh 21-19, 21-19 to add another gold medal to his collection.

In total, Bhagat has won over 120 medals at international tournaments and national competitions, the majority of them gold. 

At the Tokyo 2020 Games, where Para badminton made its Paralympic debut, Bhagat came back from eight points down to defeat Great Britain’s Daniel Bethell in a nail-biting final of the men’s singles SL3, picking up the only medal that he did not have in his collection thus far.

“It was a dream-come-true moment. I had always dreamt of hearing the national anthem at the Paralympic Games,” Bhagat said after clinching gold.

“I am proud of myself that I could live that moment. I have been the world champion, Asian Para Games champion, and a Paralympic gold was missing. Now I have it. This is surely a special one.”

Now the Indian shuttler is hungry for more, and he is ready to reach new heights in the sport he loves.

Are you ready to write your own success story like Pramod Bhagat? Here are his Top 5 tips on getting started in the sport.

1.    Keep training and working hard 

In sports you should be patient and keep training and working hard. Sports keep evolving so one must always keep evolving with time.

2.    Always give your 100 percent

In sports or life there are no second chances. 

You must give your 100 percent without worrying about the results. You need to trust yourself and the process, and the results will automatically follow.

3.    Enjoy the sport 

People will only succeed if they enjoy what they are doing. This is true in any field you choose. You must enjoy the career or the sport that you choose, and things will follow.

4.    Smile

Smiling has so much benefit for both your mind and your body. 

5.    Always think you are the best 

You must always think you are the best because it helps boost confidence and enhances everything that you do.