Krishna Nagar eyes Asian Para Glory after Stellar run

The 26-year-old Krishna Nagar, who was only the second Indian to win a Paralympic Games badminton gold after his illustrious partner Pramod Bhagat, is now gunning for bigger glory in the Asian Para Championship

Hyderabad: His achievements defy his stature! Well, the 4-foot 6-inch para shuttler Krishna Nagar, along with five-time world champion Pramod Bhagat, has redefined the level of excellence for specially challenged shuttlers in India with his stunning feats.

The 26-year-old Krishna Nagar, who was only the second Indian to win a Paralympic Games badminton gold after his illustrious partner Pramod Bhagat, is now gunning for bigger glory in the Asian Para Championship later this month in the SH6 category.

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“The major focus right now shifts to the Asian Championship. After that, we have the World Championship (February 2026), followed by the Asian Para Games,” said the 2024 world champion, Krishna Nagar, in a chat with Telangana Today.

“Yes, life has changed a lot after winning the Tokyo gold as there is recognition all around, and that makes me feel really great,” he said.

Only this May, Nagar won a bronze in the sixth Fazza Para International Para Badminton in Dubai and dedicated that to the Armed Forces for their “relentless efforts in safeguarding the country.”

For someone who was snubbed because of his height in his hometown Jaipur in Rajasthan, Nagar has been a success story of steely determination to prove his critics wrong in his badminton journey, which began in 2017.

“I have been focusing on playing positively and learning how to handle all kinds of pressures during the game,” he said.

Reflecting on the para badminton scenario, Nagar said it was gaining popularity in India but still not growing at the same pace as other sports like cricket or kabaddi.

“Badminton is actually the fastest racquet sport in the world, but in India, it’s taking a little more time to gain popularity, both in able-bodied and para sports,” Nagar said, even thanking the sponsors Olympic Gold Quest, the Sports Authority of India, and the Rajasthan State Government.

“They have always supported me, and my target is to keep improving with each tournament. The immediate goal is to come back with the Asian title,” he signed off.