Dan Bethell earned his second successive Paralympic silver after being overwhelmed in an epic last in Paris.
The 28-year-old went down 14-21, 21-18, 21-23 in opposition to India’s Kumar Nitesh in an enthralling 80-minute conflict between the highest two seeds at La Chapelle Enviornment.
Bethell misplaced out to Pramod Baghat three years in the past in Tokyo and his compatriot Nitesh managed to maintain gold in India’s palms after prevailing in a deciding sport which was a rollercoaster trip.
“It feels devastating,” mentioned Bethell. “I got here right here for that gold. I obtained the silver in Tokyo and it was my ambition from the begin to go one higher however I simply couldn’t get it over the road.
“I by no means like dropping, notably in a Paralympics once I’ve already gone by dropping a Paralympic last.
“I’ve obtained to take some satisfaction at getting by to the ultimate as plenty of athletes dream of it and to get on that podium.”
It’s a silver medal for Dan! 🥈 What a Paralympic Video games you’ve made us all proud 🔥🦁🇬🇧❤#Paris2024 #ParalympicsGB pic.twitter.com/mCcXpnYk2E
— Badminton England (@BadmintonEnglnd) September 2, 2024
The rallies have been lengthy and so they have been momentous, with the La Chapelle Enviornment on the sting of their seats because the longest of the match soared to an unimaginable 122 pictures earlier than Nitesh finally took the purpose.
Bethell pushed forward to a 7-5 lead however Nitesh pulled him again and went on to take opener 21-14.
Bethell fell behind within the second earlier than a late surge within the second sport noticed him overcome a four-point deficit and roar again into competition, thanking his household for giving him the push he wanted.
“It felt wonderful being in there with the ambiance,” he mentioned. “Having my family and friends there in comparison with Tokyo was good and so they actually helped me get again into the match once I was that far down.
“Half courtroom singles is the marathon occasion of Paralympic para badminton as there isn’t plenty of room to hit profitable pictures in order that was the important thing factor.
“My coaches, credit score to them, recognised that the sport plan wasn’t working and have been telling me the entire manner by however I couldn’t execute it the best way I wanted to.”
With all to play for, Nitesh established leads of 17-12 and 19-17 within the decider however a decided Bethell rallied to take the sport all the way down to the wire, with each gamers having match factors in a breathless encounter earlier than Nitesh finally received the day.
“You are able to do plenty of coaching and do some psychology work however nothing can put together you for that and to have that gold medal level,” he mentioned.
“It’s a surreal expertise to undergo and the one technique to get higher at it’s to expertise it. It’s a disgrace I couldn’t convert the one I had. I used to be simply making an attempt to maintain myself focussed as on the finish, it was all psychological.”
