Bhagat, Dhillon, Joshi enter finals of Fazza Dubai Para Badminton

Pramod Bhagat and reigning world champion Manasi Joshi battled past their opponents to enter the finals at the 4th Fazza Dubai Para Badminton International on Saturday. In total, nine Indian para shuttlers have made it to seven finals scheduled to be played on Sunday. In men's singles SL3, Bhagat, who won two gold medals at the recent Bahrain 2022 International, had to come back from a game down each to defeat an untiring Daisuke Fujihara of Japan, who eventually faltered after 18-all in the third game.

Bhagat won 14-21, 21-14, 21-18 after fighting for 1 hour 16 minutes. "I never thought the game would go too long. I was trying to take control of the game but he was just not giving up, even though he looked tired.

But I feel he gave up after 18-all in the third game," said the 33-year-old who will play compatriot Nitesh Kumar in the final. Kumar beat fellow Indian Manoj Sarkar, the Paralympic bronze medallist, in straight games 21-17, 21-16. In the men's singles SL4, as expected Tarun Dhillon and Indonesian Fredy Setiwan are set to play the final.

"I am keenly looking forward to the game. In Tokyo, I lost the semi-final to him so it will be sort of a revenge match for me. He is my greatest opponent in Asia, so this will be a good exposure for the Asian Para Games," said Dhillon, who defeated Rickard Nilsson 21-15.

21-17. Setiawan will in fact play in three finals, including the mixed doubles SL3-SU5 with Khalimatus Sadiyah and men's doubles SL3-SL4 with Dwiyoko Dwiyoko. Like India, Indonesia also made it to eight finals including an all-Indonesian game in men's doubles Sl3-SL4.