Tokyo, September 13 (Daily Kiran) : Indian para badminton athletes Promod Bhagat and Sukant Kadam delivered outstanding performances at the Japan Para Badminton International 2026 held in Tokyo. Bhagat clinched both a gold and a silver medal, while Kadam reached a remarkable milestone by achieving his 100th medal.
In the men’s singles SL3 final, Bhagat faced fellow Indian player U Kumar, winning decisively with scores of 21-16 and 21-08 to secure the gold medal. Alongside Kadam, he also earned a silver medal in the men’s doubles SL3-SU5 category, despite losing to Indonesia’s Hikmat Ramdani and Freddy Setiawan.
Expressing his joy after the competition, Bhagat stated, “I am thrilled to conclude the tournament with a gold and a silver medal. The singles final was challenging, especially when U Kumar took an early lead. However, I maintained my composure and focused on my game. Once I found my rhythm, I was able to take control. The doubles result wasn’t what we hoped for, but I take pride in the effort we put forth. Every international tournament is an opportunity to learn and improve. I will leave Japan with positive experiences.”
Meanwhile, Sukant Kadam celebrated a significant career milestone by achieving his 100th medal during the tournament, which included silver medals in both the doubles event and the men’s singles SL4 category.
In the singles final, Kadam faced Lucas Mazur from France. Mazur started strong, winning the first game 21-08. Although Kadam improved in the second game, he ultimately lost 21-16, allowing the French player to take home the gold medal.
Reflecting on his achievement, Kadam remarked, “Reaching 100 medals is a very special moment for me. When I started playing para badminton 12 years ago, I never imagined I would reach this level. This journey has been filled with ups and downs, victories and defeats, but every match has taught me something. I am grateful to everyone who has supported me along the way. I don’t see the 100-medal mark as the end goal; it motivates me to work harder and achieve even more for India.”
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