Indian para-shuttler Nitesh Kumar won a gold medal in the men's singles SL3 event at the Paris Paralympics 2024, attributing his success partly to the absence of Pramod Bhagat, who was banned for 18 months due to anti-doping violations. Nitesh expressed that this situation added 'extra responsibility' for him to win the title, as he aimed to represent India effectively. He advanced to the finals after defeating several strong competitors, and ultimately triumphed over Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Daniel Bethell in a closely contested final. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya praised the Indian contingent for achieving the country's best-ever medal haul at the Paralympics, with hopes for more medals in upcoming events. Other athletes, including Thulasimathi Murugesan and Suhas Yathiraj, were also recognized for their performances. The Indian team is optimistic about winning additional medals as the games continue.