Bhubaneswar: Ace para shuttler Pramod Bhagat scripted history on Saturday by claiming his fourth consecutive World championship singles gold medal, and sixth overall, in men’s SL3 category.
Odisha’s ace badminton star did India proud at the BWF Para World Championships in Manama by outclassing Indonesia’s Muhammad Al Imran 21-12, 21-18 in the final.
The 37-year-old Bhagat once again underlined his dominance in the SL3 division, a classification for standing players with significant lower limb impairment.
Bhagat, who developed polio when at the age of five, earlier lifted World championship titles in 2009, 2015, 2019, 2022 and 2024.
With his sixth World title, Bhagat surpassed legendary Chinese shuttler Lin Dan, who won five men’s singles world titles in able-bodied badminton.
It was perhaps Bhagat’s most significant World championship triumph as it came after he served an 18-month suspension for violating the Badminton World Federation (BWF) anti-doping whereabouts clause. He even had to miss the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
Bhagat also claimed the men’s doubles SL3-SL4 title, combining with Sukant Kadam to defeat fellow-Indians J Dilli and N Sivakumar 21-19, 21-16 in the final. Bhagat thus completed a golden double in the BWF Para World Championships.
