Bahrain 2022 Para Badminton: Bhagat, Dhillon, Mandeep, Manisha enter finals

After a successful campaign in Brazil where the team won 28 medals, the Indian Para Badminton team are on course to secure yet another big haul of medals including several gold at the ongoing first ever Bahrain Para Badminton International 2022.

The Para Badminton side, led by Paralympic champion Pramod Bhagat (MS SL3) and Asian Para Games 2018 champion Tarun Dhillon (MS SH4) who made it to two finals each, ensured at least 11 silver medals after they advanced to the finals of their respective events.

Bhagat, who settled for two bronze medals in the Brazil Para Badminton International recently, registered a convincing 21-16, 21-14 win over compatriot and Paralympic bronze medallist Manoj Sarkar in the men’s singles SL3 semi-finals.

He will next face his arch rival Daniel Bethell of England in the final.  

Bhagat then paired up with Ramdass to defeat Japan’s Daisuke Fujihara and Akiko Sugino 21-13, 21-15 in the mixed doubles SL3-SU5 semi-finals.

Meanwhile, Dhillon continued his good run of form with a 21-14, 21-15 win over Thailand's Siripong Teamarrom and will meet Korean Shin Kyung Hwan in the men’s singles SL4 finals.

In the absence of French top player Lucas Mazur, Dhillon will have a chance to take a shot at the gold medal.

Dhillon also registered a win in the men's doubles SL3-SH4 semi-final yet again defeating Korean Hwan and Joo Dongjae in straight games 21-18, 21-18.

However, Paralympic gold medallist Krishna Nagar had to pull out from his men's singles semi-final SH6 match against Hong Kong's Chu Man Kai.

India raises up performance in doubles; Manisha Ramdass, Kaur impress

In women’s events, Manisha Ramdass (SU5) and Mandeep Kaur (SL3) continued their impressive run reaching the final of two events including women’s doubles SL3-SU5 event together. Kaur also entered the women’s singles SL3 finals with a shocking defeat of the top seed, while Ramdass made it to the women’s doubles SL3-SU5 final alongwith Bhagat.

The second seeded pair of Kaur and Ramdass, who has a gold together from the Brazil Para Badminton International, will face the Paralympic duo of Palak Kohli and Parul Parmar in the final. Parmar however lost to Turkey’s Halime Yildiz 21-5, 21-18 in her women’s singles SL3 semi-finals.

On the other hand, Kaur pulled off a shocking 21-18, 21-14 win over top seed Manasi Joshi in the women’s singles SL3 semi-finals and is set to face Yildiz.

Among other Indian finallists are Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan who defeated Thailand’s Chai Saeyang 21-13, 21-18 in the women’s singles SH6 semis. Chirag Baretha and Raj Kumar also made it to the finals of men’s doubles SU5, as did Dhinagaran Pandurangan and Sivarajan Solaimalai in doubles SH6.