Sameer Khan won the men's singles gold medal in his category at the National Para-Badminton Open in Pune on Sunday, beating the defending champion 21-18, 17-21, 21-15 in a final that lasted more than an hour.
Khan, 27, took up the sport five years ago, two years after a road accident left him with a weak left leg. He was working at a mobile repair shop when a customer invited him to a local para-sports club.
"I came to watch and the coach handed me a racket," Khan said. "I lost every game for six months. Then I started winning a few points. Then a few games."
Road to the title
- Five matches in four days, dropping only two games all tournament.
- A comeback in the semi-final after losing the first game 12-21.
- A long final game in which he saved two game points at 18-20 in the second before losing it, then dominated the decider.
His coach, Rekha Joshi, said Khan's footwork and patience at the net had improved sharply this year. "He has learned that he does not need to win every rally in three shots," she said.
The national federation will name its squad for next year's international tournaments after a selection camp in December. Khan said he would spend the next two months working on his fitness and his backhand.
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