An alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi Nitish Kumar has made a historic feat by winning a first Paralympics Gold Medal in Men Singles SL3 Badminton event by defeating Daniel Bethell 2-1 in a thrilling final on Monday in ongoing Paris Paralympics Games.
Nitesh Kumar, who did his B.Tech graduate programme in Electrical Engineering from IIT-Mandi from 2014-2018, has become the first IIT-graduate to win a Paralympics Gold Medal for India.
Born in Rajasthan and now living in Haryana, Nitesh had lost his leg in a train accident in 2009 leaving him crippled but Nitish found purpose in playing badminton.
Competing in SL 3 category, reserved for players with severe lower limb disabilities, Nitesh’s journey to Gold Medal has been extraordinary. Losing his left leg at age 15 but not deterred by his physical disability, Nitiesh started playing badminton at IIT Mandi and has now won a Gold Medal for the county in Paralympics Games.
