Nitesh Kumar: My Goal Is Not Just Winning Medals, But Continuous Improvement

New Delhi, October 30 (Daily Kiran) : Nitesh Kumar, a celebrated Paralympic champion from India, has achieved remarkable success in para-badminton. Recently, he secured a gold medal in the men’s singles SL3 category at the Asian Para Games and won a silver medal in the mixed doubles SL3-SU5 event alongside Thulsimathi Murugesan.

As the reigning Paralympic champion, Nitesh previously claimed gold in Paris by defeating Great Britain’s Daniel Bethell. His accolades also include four medals from the World Championships—two silver and two bronze. Despite his extensive collection of international medals, Nitesh remains driven to improve. He attributes his motivation to his love for the sport and his desire to win more gold medals for India.

In an exclusive interview, Nitesh stated, “I believe my passion for the sport fuels my drive. I enjoy what I do and know when I am performing at my best. My aim is not just to win medals but to keep progressing and getting better. This mindset pushes me to give my all in every tournament. When I win a gold medal and add to India’s medal tally, it brings me immense joy, which inspires me at every competition.”

Nitesh emphasized his potential, saying, “I have the capabilities; I just need to channel my energy in the right direction. Sometimes I succeed, and sometimes I learn from my failures. Winning teaches us lessons, but losing also provides valuable insights on what to improve for next time. My goal is to perform at my best and secure as many medals for my country as possible.”

With his recent victories in Paris and the Asian Para Games, Nitesh is now focused on obtaining a gold medal at the World Championships, which has eluded him so far. He expressed, “Yes, I have two silver and two bronze medals from the World Championships, but I still lack a gold. That’s something that always lingers in my mind.”

Reflecting on his recent final against Pramod Bhagat in the Asian Para Games, Nitesh shared insights about his preparation. He maintained patience, knowing Pramod could turn the match around at any moment. “There wasn’t any special preparation because we play against each other frequently throughout the year. However, I learned from the last tournament that nothing is certain until the match is over. Pramod can always come back stronger,” he explained.

Nitesh detailed his strategy during the final, stating, “In the first game, I aimed to put pressure on him. I kept my focus in the second game to maintain that pressure. As the match neared its end, I reminded myself that the job wasn’t finished yet. I had to avoid repeating the mistakes I made in Hangzhou, so I continued to play with the same intensity and hunger for every point.”

Looking ahead, Nitesh has set his sights on defending his gold medal at the Los Angeles Paralympics. He hopes that only Indian players will reach the finals, which would alleviate the pressure of competing. “As I approached the Paris Paralympics, my sole aim was to defend the title that Pramod Bhagat won in Tokyo. It wasn’t about needing to win gold or defeat Bethell; my priority was to keep the gold medal in India. Now, with the Los Angeles Games approaching, both Pramod and I will be competing,” he said.

He added, “I believe this will free me from some pressure. When we have two strong contenders, the responsibility is shared, allowing us to perform at our best. If we can create an ‘all-India final,’ I think we will feel less pressure. That’s why we need to replicate our success for India.”

Before that, Nitesh emphasized the importance of qualifying for the Games. “Once we qualify, we can think about the results we want to achieve in Los Angeles. However, our main goal remains to secure medals for India over the next four years.”