BHUBANESWAR 28-Apr-2019
Men’s SL3 World No 1 Pramod Bhagat of Odisha clinched a double crown in Uganda Para-Badminton International 2019, emerging both singles and doubles champion at Lugogo Indoor Stadium in Kampala today.
Top seed Bhagat won the singles gold, defeating compatriot Umesh Vikram Kumar in the hard-fought final 24-22, 21-10. This was the seventh international singles title for Bhagat, who prevailed over another Indian, Manoj Sarkar 20-22, 21-14, 21-17 earlier in the semifinals.
The southpaw from Atabira of Bargarh district, Bhagat completed the double by claiming the doubles gold medal with Manoj Sarkar. They defeated French pair of Guillaume Gailly and Mathieu Thomas in the final 21-13, 21-11.
With this double crown, Bhagat brightened his chances of participation in the 16th Summer Paralympic Games, scheduled to be held in Tokyo from 25 August to 6 September, 2020. ``I dream to win medal for my state and coutry in the Paralympic Games,’’ he said.
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PHOTO: Pramod Bhagat (Left) and his doubles partner Manoj Sarkar with their medals in Kampala on 28 April 2019.
