Tokyo Paralympics: India’s Manoj Sarkar wins bronze in men’s singles (SL3) badminton event

India’s Manoj Sarkar on Saturday won the bronze medal in the men’s singles (SL3) badminton event to better India’s medal tally at the ongoing Tokyo Paralympics in Japan. He defeated Japan’s Daisuke Fujihara 22-20,21-13 in the final to continue’s India’s medal rush. 

Manoj had to battle hard against his Japanese counterpart in the first game.  Despite leading 18-14, the Indian was taken aback by Fujihara’s comeback, who stormed to the game point opportunity first. However, Manoj kept his nerves and eventually claimed the game 22-20. 

In 19 minutes, he won the second game 21-13 to seal another medal for the country in badminton.

Earlier, Manoj’s Paralympics campaign did not get off to a bright start in Group A. He lost his first game 10-21, 23-21,9-21 to compatriot Pramod Bhagat. 

However, he won his second group 21-16,21-9 against Ukraine’s Oleksandr Chyrkov to make the semifinals. In the last-four stage, he went to Great Britain’s Daniel Bethell 8-21,10-21 to qualify for the bronze medal match.