Para shuttler Mandeep Kaur registered a commanding win over world champion Oksana Kozyna while Nehal Gupta claimed two gold medals as the Indian team signed off with a total of 14 medals at the Peru Para-Badminton International 2022 in Lima, Peru.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Overall, India claimed six gold, one silver and seven bronze medals to end the year on a strong note.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mandeep, who lost to Oksana Kozyna in the semifinals of the World Championships in Tokyo last month, produced a dominating show to defeat and exact revenge against the Ukrainian 21-11, 21-11 in 30 minutes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Extremely happy with my performance here at Peru Para-Badminton International Tournament 2022. The world championship draw came in such a way that I and Oksana met in the quarterfinals, where I lost in three close sets.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I and my coach Gaurav sir couldn't sleep properly after that defeat. We came to participate in Peru International majorly for Oksana and I am glad that we could do whatever we planned.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I am happy that I have settled the scores with her (Kozyna)," said Mandeep, who also took a silver and bronze medal in women's and mixed doubles SL3-SU5, respectively.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mandeep along with Kelly Edith Ari Escalante lost to senior compatriot Parul Dalsukhbhai Parmar and Vaishali Nilesh Patel 21-17, 21-19 in the final.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Twin gold medals<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On the other hand, 17-year-old Gupta came out with an impressive show to clinch two gold medals in men's singles SL3 and men's doubles SL3-SL4 events, the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) informed in a release on Tuesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Gupta first paired up with Brazilian Johann Breno to defeat local pair Renzo Diquez Bances Morales and Pedro Pablo De Vinatea 21-16, 21-13 in the doubles, before he got the better of top French para shuttler Mathieu Thomas 21-16, 21-14 in the men's singles.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
This title win will boost the confidence of the youngster Gupta who has strong opponents like Pramod Bhagat and Manoj Sarkar at home in the men's singles SL3 category.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Gold for Sivan, Kadam too<\/p>\r\n\r\n
There was more joy for Team India as Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan, another promising star from the Indian Para-Badminton circuit, surprised World Championships silver medallist Peru's Giuliana Poveda Flores 21-6, 21-13 in women's singles SH6 finals to wrap up the year with gold. Sivan had three bronze medals at the Worlds.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Meanwhile, World Championship bronze medallist Sukant Kadam overcame Singapore's Chee Hiong Ang 21-14, 21-15 for the men's singles SL4 gold medal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The bronze medallists were Umesh Vikram Kumar (MS SL3), Parul Parmar (WS SL3), Nehal Gupta and Mandeep Kaur (XD SL3-SU5), Arati Patil (WS SU5), Rachana Patel and Nithya Sre (WD SH6), Charanjeet Kaur (WD SL3-SU5), Dilleshwar Rao (MD SL3-SL4).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Meanwhile, World Championship bronze medallist Sukant Kadam overcame Singapore's Chee Hiong Ang 21-14, 21-15 for the men's singles SL4 gold medal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n