Six Players In Race: Will Odisha’s Pramod Bhagat Be World Para Shuttler Of The Year?

New Delhi: The Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Thursday shortlisted six players for the newly-introduced male para badminton player of the year award. Among them is Odisha’s pride and Tokyo Paralympics gold-medallist Pramod Bhagat.

Bhagat, who is the reigning world champion, clinched a historic gold medal in men’s singles SL3 class in the Tokyo Games in September.

Also Read: Naveen Felicitates Gold Medal Winner In Tokyo Paralympics Pramod Bhagat

Fellow-Indian Manoj Sarkar, who bagged bronze medal in men’s singles SL3 class in Tokyo Paralympics, has also been nominated.

Bhagat, the reigning world champion, clinched a historic gold medal in Tokyo Paralympics in September. He is currently world No. 1 and Asian champion in SL3 category, in which athletes with lower limb impairment compete.

He was recently honoured with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award.

The 33-year-old Bhagat contracted polio when he was just four. He took to badminton after watching neighbours play the racket sport. He initially pitted his skills against able-bodied shuttlers but in 2006, decided to try his luck in competitive para badminton.

No Indian made the list of nominees in able-bodied categories.

The winners will be announced during the BWF World Tour meet in Bali (Indonesia), three weeks’ time.