Paralympics final day as it happened: Games declared close; India finish campaign with 19 medals
Arigato, Tokyo.
Key updates on Sunday morning:
- Badminton: Suhas Yathiraj wins silver medal after thrilling final against top seed in singles SL4. Tarun Dhillon misses out on bronze.
- Shooting: Sidhartha Babu came within 0.2 points of reaching the final but none of the Indian shooters made the cut. A memorable campaign came to a close.
- Badminton: Krishna Nagar wins India’s 5th gold medal of the games and 19th overall
- Badminton: Pramod Bhagat-Palak Kohli finish 4th after thrilling bronze playoff defeat.
That will be all from us for the live blogs of Tokyo 2020. Stay tuned for wraps from the Paralympics on these pages. Scroll.in’s coverage of Tokyo 2020 Paralympics here. Thank you all for reading!
Closing ceremony: And that, after all, is that... Tokyo 2020 is now behind us. From the end of July to the start of September, the action has come to a close!
Closing ceremony: A stunning rendition of the ‘What a wonderful world...’
Closing ceremony: Andrew Parsons: “I don’t want to do this, but I declare the Paralympic Games closed...”
Closing ceremony: Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee, with his address.
Closing ceremony: The Eiffel Tower with Paris 2024 flag and a prosthetic leg.
Closing ceremony: As with the Olympics closing ceremony, a stunning handover video for Paralympics as well. After a mesmerising video clip, we head over to live scenes from Paris.
Closing ceremony: The handover from Tokyo 2020 to Paris 2024 is underway!
Closing ceremony: A vibrant show of colours!
Closing ceremony: Volunteers being thanked. Unsung heroes of the Games!
Closing ceremony: Daniel Dias is among the new inductees in IPC athlete council...
Signed off in Tokyo from his last Paralympics before retirement with three bronze medals to confirm his status as Brazil’s most decorated Paralympian with 27 medals, including 14 golds.
Born without hands, his proudest moments came at his home Games, in Rio de Janeiro five years ago, when he secured four gold, three silver and two bronze medals.
Born in 1988, Dias was inspired to take up swimming after seeing fellow Brazilian Clodoaldo Silva at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games. (via AFP)
Closing ceremony: Afghanistan had their two athletes at the closing ceremony. A poignant moment.
(VIA AFP): Afghanistan’s swift fall to the Taliban last month left the country’s two Paralympic athletes trapped, with no way to leave Kabul and their dreams of competing in Tokyo seemingly over.
At the opening ceremony, the Afghan flag was carried by a Japanese volunteer – but four days into the Games, officials announced that Zakia Khudadadi and Hossain Rasouli had made it to Japan.
Details of their evacuation via Paris had been kept secret, in what International Paralympic Committee spokesman Craig Spence described as a “major global operation”.
“Both athletes are here in Tokyo to fulfil their dreams, sending out a very strong message of hope to many others around the world,” Spence said.
Khudadadi, 22, fought in the Paralympics’ first-ever taekwondo bout, while Rasouli, 26, took part in a long jump event, having missed the 100m sprint he had trained for.
Closing ceremony: A very brief glimpse of Avani Lekhara, India’s flagbearer for the closing ceremony. First Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold, first Indian woman to win two Paralympic medals.
Closing ceremony: The opening act of the closing ceremony ends with a lovely message.
Closing ceremony: One of the most beautiful thing about the opening ceremony was the Little One-Winged Plane story. Tokyo has put up quite a show already... should be special, this one.
A record-breaking performance: What a run India has had in Tokyo!
India’s Paralympic Games by year
Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 19 |
2016 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
2012 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
2004 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
1984 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
1972 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Total | 4 | 4 | 4 | 12 |
Most important edition: Fifteen gold medals were awarded on the final day of action, bringing the curtain down on a competition which saw a record 86 teams win medals and 62 claim at least one gold. China finished on top of the medal table with 207, including 96 golds, followed by Britain, the United States and the Russian team. With the sporting action over, attention turns towards the closing ceremony at the 68,000-capacity Olympic Stadium, where the Games opened 12 days earlier with howling guitars and neon-streaked performers.
01.20 pm: We are not signing off yet, but a little thank you note before that.
Stay tuned with us on the live blog. Events may be done, but we will have plenty to look back on, as well as the closing ceremony to look forward to, with the live stream for it starting at 3.45 pm here.
Krishna Nagar on winning gold: This is a dream come true. I want to thank my father, mother, uncle, auntie, God, my coaches. This is the first time that badminton has been added to the Paralympics and I hope that India will keep winning and doing their best at upcoming Games. (via BWF)
Here’s something we just realised:
No. of Indian athletes at Rio Paralympics: 19
No. of Indian medals at Tokyo Paralympics: 19
Zenia D’Cunha: As the score suggests, this was very, very close. Remember Pramod Bhagat & Palak Kohli are not a regular pair and are ranked lowest in the field. A terrific fight to reach the medal match even as much as the final 4th-finish feels a little frustrating.
10.44 am: A record-breaking campaign for India at the Paralympics comes to a close with a heartbreaking-yet-wonderful 4th place finish. What would an edition without a few of those! Superb run by Palak-Pramod to get this far as the lowest-ranked pair. Might be a bit tough for Palak Kohli to return without a medal but she has time on her side for a long, long career. Just 19!
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match IND 0-1 JPN: Japan have won 23-21, 21-19! What a thriller. And that is the end of India’s Paralympics campaign. Another 4th place (heartbreaking but creditable) added to the list of close misses! What is a Summer Games edition without a few of those.
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match IND 0-1 JPN: Match point to Japan.
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match IND 0-1 JPN: 19-18 to Japan. And then it is 19-19 again!
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match IND 0-1 JPN: It is, you guessed it, 18-18.
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match IND 0-1 JPN: Make that 17-17. The Indonesians have meanwhile clinched the gold medal in this category. The top seeds pull off a thriller. Oktila has 2 golds and a silver now.
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match IND 0-1 JPN: It is 16-16. ARGH.
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match IND 0-1 JPN: Too bad we couldn’t swear on a live blog, because the Indians fight back to make it 15-15!
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match IND 0-1 JPN: 13-13 now. Following live scores is incredibly more nerve wracking than watching live sport. Japan soon take a 15-13 lead. Now or never for the Indians.
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match IND 0-1 JPN: If Indonesia win this match on main court soon, might get to watch long shot live of the Indians... hope they can keep the match alive till then. JPN lead 13-11 in the second.
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match IND 0-1 JPN: A slender lead at the break for Japan at 11-10 in the second game. Who can call this one, geez.
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match IND 0-1 JPN: Well, not quite. From 6-10 down, the Indians have made it 10-10!
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match IND 0-1 JPN: And now a 4-point lead for JPN at 10-6. Feels like this is slipping away for India at the moment.
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match IND 0-1 JPN: The biggest lead yet for Japan in this match at 7-4, then 8-5...
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match IND 0-1 JPN: A rare 2-point lead... and it has come early in the second game for Japan. Up 6-4.
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match: 3-3, 4-4 in the opening exchanges of Game 2.
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match: JPN TAKE GAME 1! The hosts have clawed their back in this supremely close tussle to convert their third game point and take the opening game 23-21. 17 minutes and very little to separate the two.
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match: And now a game point for India saved, it is 21-21. Another game point for JPN at 22-21.
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match: Two game points saved by India, 20-20!!
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match: First time in the match the Japanese pair have a 2-point lead and what a time to do it! Game points at 20-18. The Indians save one.
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match: Go on guess the score? Yes it is 18-18.
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match: And it is 17-17! Now it is the Indians pulling back as the Japanese pair edge ahead a point, by point.
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match: Make that 15-15, 16-16 now. Neither pair able to go on a roll of points.
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match: Fujihara-Sukino keep pulling things back... 13-13, 14-14.
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match: From 11-11 out of the break, Palak-Pramod have moved up to 13-11.
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match: The Japanese pair make it 10-10 but the Indians takes a one-point lead into the interval. 11-10 in the opener for Palak-Pramod.
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match: Make that a 10-7 lead for Pramod-Palak here. They have the serve back to go into the interval with a lead.
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match: Good start for the Indians! They have a 6-4 lead early doors.
Badminton, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, bronze medal match: The lowest two seeds in the event are in the battle for a place on the podium. The only two SL3-SU5 combination too. We can’t watch this one but should really be a thriller.
FINE MARGINS. A a matter of one-two points here and there. Krishna Nagar’s quality shines through in the decider, as it did in the opening game. Time now to see if Palak-Pramod can take the tally to a nice round figure of 20. No telecast of that one.
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match: GOLD MEDAL AND KRISHNA NAGAR MAKES IT A FAMOUS FIVE FOR INDIA!
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match, IND 1-1 HKG: Terrific from Krishna Nagar, stepping up here. 19-16! Terrific court coverage next point and he has four match points!
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match, IND 1-1 HKG: AAnother solid smash from Krishna and he has the lead at 17-15! NERVES.
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match, IND 1-1 HKG: Krishna needed that. The smash helps him there, gets serve back at 14-13. But soon enough, 14-14. Too close to call!
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match, IND 1-1 HKG: A 13-8 lead for Krishna Nagar now and he thinks he has the next point too but to his surprise it is called out! And then Chu finds a foot-hold from there, suddenly it is 11-13... 12-13... 13-13. Yikes! FINE MARGINS.
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match, IND 1-1 HKG: Nagar 11-7 ahead! An error from Chu and a fist bump from Krishna Nagar as he gets the serve back. Now 9-6 for him. Who takes the lead at change of endS? The Indian gets the serve back at 10-7. And he will have the edge! A lovely forehand defensive push that lands in with some swing!!! What a point that.
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match, IND 1-1 HKG: From 2-7 down, to big points for Chu to make it 4-7. First a good smash from him and then a smash from Nagar goes wide. He is on a mini roll at the moment. Makes it 6-7! Geez, what a rollercoaster.
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match, IND 1-1 HKG: There is the ideal start for Krishna, it is 5-1 in the early stages and then 6-2. He is looking better here. Make that a 7-2 lead for Indian.
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match, IND 1-1 HKG: Krishna Nagar’s best is clearly better than Chu Man Kai’s. But the Hong Kong shuttler is playing the cleaner game. 1-1 and decider time.
Rally stats at the end of game 2
Match / Games Statistics | Match | Game 1 | Game 2 |
---|---|---|---|
Longest rally (seconds) | 26 | 26 | 20 |
Longest rally (strokes) | 20 | 20 | 13 |
Average rally (seconds) | 9 | 10 | 9 |
Average rally (strokes) | 4 | 5 | 4 |
Shuttles used | 4 | 3 |
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match, IND 1-0 HKG: Makes it 15-19, but Chu soon has 5 game points as he judges it well at the baseline. Krishna saves one but on his serve he gives up another point and it is DECIDER TIME!
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match, IND 1-0 HKG: The biggest lead yet for Chu and it is 19-13 for him. Krishna’s errors again. If he has to make a comeback it has to happen here, down 6.
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match, IND 1-0 HKG: Better from Nagar since the interval but Chu still staying in the lead. From 12-15, Chu takes the serve back and makes it 16-12. Then a super smash from Krishna. It is now 13-16.
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match, IND 1-0 HKG: Chu staying ahead in this one, leads 12-7 and 13-8. But we have seen Krishna can overcome a 5-point deficit. He calms himself down after a super jump smash and makes it 10-13.
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match, IND 1-0 HKG: Krishna Nagar giving up points easier than he would like... unreturned serves, service errors. Chu has a 11-7 lead at the interval.
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match, IND 1-0 HKG: From 6-6, Chu has put together a lovely run of points. First instance of either player taking control of proceedings in this game. It is a handy lead for Chu at 9-6.
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match, IND 1-0 HKG: Points exchanged early on... 3-3 in the second game. Then 4-4. Errors from both players early on. Neither player taking control.
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match, IND 1-0 HKG: AND GAME 1, KRISHNA NAGAR! Terrific fightback to overturn a 5 point deficit at one stage. From 15-17 down, six points in a row. Stepping up when it mattered.
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match: 19-17... 20-17. Game points for Krishna!
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match: A loud come on from Krishna as Chu nets a forehand return! And we are level at 17-17. Terrific rally next up and the Indian has a 18-17 lead!
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match: And just like that it is a 1-point game at 15-16 and then Chu gets the serve back. 17-15.
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match: Needed that, Krishna. Lovely net play to get the serve back at 12-16 and plays a great rally that ends with a solid smash down the line. An error from Chu next and it is 14-16.
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match: Oh no, Chu has a 13-10, then 14-11 lead. In the early parts it felt like Krishna was making the errors now Chu seems to be even controlling the rallies. Make that 15-11 to the Hong Kong shuttler.
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match: Nagar would some of the errors he made in the early exchanges if he doesn’t go on to win this opening game. A lovely clear by Chu makes it 10-10 and then Nagar sends a smash wide for a deficit at the interval. The HKG shuttler leads 11-10.
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match: It is close in the early exchanges, Krishna Nagar had moved into a decent position early on but has seen a 3-point lead wiped out. 9-9 at the moment.
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match: Krishna Nagar vs Chu Man Kai. The Indian was in scintillating form in the semis. Here we go!
Key updates on Sunday morning:
- Badminton: Suhas Yathiraj wins silver medal after thrilling final against top seed in singles SL4. Tarun Dhillon misses out on bronze.
- Shooting: Sidhartha Babu came within 0.2 points of reaching the final but none of the Indian shooters made the cut. A memorable campaign came to a close.
- Badminton: Krishna Nagar to go for India’s 5th gold medal of the games and 19th overall in the final.
- To come after that... Pramod Bhagat-Palak Kohli (bronze match) about to come to conclude India’s campaign
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 Gold medal match: Well, there is one medal ceremony before the next match.
MEDAL CEREMONY: SILVER FOR SUHA! Got to enjoy that moment when athletes pick up a medal, put it around their neck and take a few moments for a nice long look at it and make sure it is really theirs. Lovely. Well played, Suhas Yathiraj. Well played!
Badminton Men’s Singles SH6 (short stature) Gold medal match: A 19th medal for India is imminent... can it be one last gold medal at the Games? Krishna Nagar will be in action shortly against World No 3 Chu Man Kai. The Indian has a 2-1 H2H edge in singles matches on the BWF Para Tour ranking circuit.
Medal ceremony coming up... followed by Krishna Nagar’s SH6 final
Final two events for India at Tokyo PG
Approx start time IST | Badminton | Athletes |
---|---|---|
8:00 | Men's Singles SH6 Gold Medal Match | Krishna Nagar (IND) vs Chu Man Kai (HGK) |
8:45 | Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5 Bronze Medal Match | Pramod Bhagat/ Palak Kohli (IND) vs Daisuke Fujihara/ Akiko Sugino (JPN) |
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match: Yathiraj and Mazur. Underdog and big favourite... served up a classic here. It was the kind of match that makes you want to get up, go out and play. Yathiraj started better, Mazur fought back and you never quite knew who would win right till the end. The way Suhas Yathiraj was enjoying this final... made us enjoy it equally as much, wouldn’t be an overstatement. Good stuff. As was already assured, medal No 18 for India.
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match: What fight by Yathiraj! He had never been beyond the quarterfinals at a major event (Worlds or Asian Para) and was the big underdog here against the top seed but he sure took the fight to Mazur.
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match IND 1-1 FRA: MAZUR IS THE CHAMPION! What a celebration. And Suhas still has a smile on his at the end of it all. What a match from him. SILVER MEDAL FOR INDIA!
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match IND 1-1 FRA: Pushes the shuttle long does Suhas and it is 15-19. Suhas sends another shuttle wide... and it is five gold medal points!
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match IND 1-1 FRA: FOUR FINGERS HELD UP. Mazur tells his contingent how far away he is from the gold... and from there, another twist as Suhas wins the next two points. 15-17. A massive smash from Mazur, now three fingers held up... 18-15.
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match IND 1-1 FRA: And Mazur is putting together the run of points he needed! From 13-13... it is 16-13 Mazur! Suhas wants the shuttle changed... no can do says Mazur. All part of the game play.
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match IND 1-1 FRA: Points exchanged after the break! It is 12-12. Mazur has the big-match experience, Suhas has the energy. Which will triumph?
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match IND 1-1 FRA: Icepack for Mazur, a few words of encouragement from coach Gaurav Khanna for Suhas... and we are back for the final stretch in this brilliant final .
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match IND 1-1 FRA: An unreturned serve from Mazur gives him a 10-9 lead but that is followed by two good points from Suhas and the Indian has a 11-10 lead at the change of ends! The Indian will now finish from the end that he struggled a bit in the second game.
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match IND 1-1 FRA: It is now a one-point game, Suhas thought he had that previous point with a clever return but it lands out. And then Mazur plays a superb point to make it 9-9. Another mini fightback from the top seed.
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match IND 1-1 FRA: Serve back with Suhas at 8-5 and he gives it back with an service error, those are the moments he needs to avoid. Gets the serve back immediately.
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match IND 1-1 FRA: A deft backhand touch at the net to get the serve back at 6-3. The Indian is once again miffed as the Frenchman is not ready when he is. Words exchanged with the official.
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match IND 1-1 FRA:Suhas needs a good start to try and deflate the Frenchman... he does that. A 3-0, 4-1 lead for the Indian. Still looks understandably the much fresher of the two players. He will hope that helps him but needs to keep errors down, made a few costly ones when he was up 15 in the second.
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match IND 1-1 FRA: AND MAZUR IS PUMPED! He looked down in the scoreboard but also low on energy at different stages of this match, but from 12-15 down, with the gold medal slipping away, won 9 of the last 11 points to close out the second game! DECIDER TIME.
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match IND 1-0 FRA: 19-16 for Mazur now! Slipping away for the Indian. Suhas has the serve back at 17-19 now... and Mazur with a super return for three game points.
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match IND 1-0 FRA: Suhas led by 3 not long back but it now Mazur into the lead at 16-15. And now a super smash from Suhas and he is asking the Indian contingent behind him to egg him on! What an atmosphere, even without fans!
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match IND 1-0 FRA: Every time the serve goes to Mazur, Suhas comes up with a big point to get it back. He is still enjoying every point he wins like it is the match point! Important now though to keep his composure, you’d think... Mazur was trailing 13-15... it is now 15-15. The French contingent is egging him on! Quite a battle this one.
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match: 11-8 to the Indian, well well well. Yathiraj with the advantage at the interval in the second game. Brilliant by the Indian.
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match: A good point from Suhas stops the streak of points but he gives the serve back immediately, 8-6 Mazur. Then a gift from Mazur and Suhas is like a little kid on Christmas morning after that point. He is enjoying this still! 7-8 on Indian’s serve.
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match: And Mazur starts to make his way back ever so slightly. The Indian went in to an early lead in the second game but a few errors are creeping into the Indian’s case. Rush of blood! Frenchman has won 4 in a row to go from 3-5 to 7-5.
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match: INTO THE LEAD! Suhas Yathiraj takes the opening game against the favourite Lucas Mazur 21-15.
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match: 5 game points for Yathiraj. Showing great hustle to get the shuttle back. Superb defence.
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match: Mazur taking a quick sit down. Yathiraj saying why is he getting a break. The Indian doesn’t want to give the Frenchman a chance to recover his breath.
Shooting R6 - Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH1 Qualification: HEARTBREAK! Sidhartha babu has finished 9th in qualification, missing out on the final by 0.2 points. No Indian in the final.
Babu: 103.3 102.1 102.8 102.2 103.5 103.3 = 617.2 and 9th
Lekhara: 102.8 102.1 103.7 99.5 101.6 102.3 = 612.0 and 28th
Deepak: 97.5 99.1 100.1 101.8 99.8 103.9 = 602.2 and 46th
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match: Yathiraj took the lead into the interval. 11-8. A superb start for the Indian. He then builds on it after the interval, not letting momentum slip. A 16-11 lead now against the world champion!
Men’s Singles SL4 Bronze Medal match: Done and dusted, No bronze medal for world No 2 and second seed Tarun Dhillon, the first defeat against Fredy Setiawan hurt his chances of topping the group... and now a second defeat has ended his podium hopes.
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match: Pumping himself up constantly, Suhas! One point leads at a couple of instances.. make it two now at 10-8.
Men’s Singles SL4 Bronze Medal match: A whopping 10 match points for Tarun Dhillon.
Men’s Singles SL4 Bronze Medal match: A window? Tarun has the serve back at 8-18. Now or never for the world No 2. Makes it 9-18.
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match: Precise badminton from Suhas in these early stages and he is staying in touch... a roar and then some for 7-7!
Men’s Singles SL4 Bronze Medal match: A 15-7 lead for Setiawan... not looking good for Tarun. The bronze has all but slipped away.
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match: Plenty of energy from Suhas in the early stages, he is trying to get himself going... Lucas was just starting to take a lead but the Indian closes the gap to two at 4-6 and has the serve.
Men’s Singles SL4 Bronze Medal match: Tarun is in big trouble there on Court 3. Was trailing 4-11 at the break, is trailing 6-13 now... needs to pull a Bhagat there.
Shooting R6 - Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH1 Qualification: sidhartha babu has finished his series of six with scores of 103.3 102.1 102.8 102.2 103.5 103.3 for a total of 617.2. He is 9th at the moment and will hope someone above his has a poor last series.
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match: Players are out on the court warming up. Here we go! Suhas Yathiraj, the IAS officer and guaranteed Paralympic Games medallist, will look to pull off an upset against the top seed. He would have the advantage of being fresher. The H2H is not in his favour at 7-2 before Tokyo 2020 for Mazur. And the Frenchman won 15 & 17 in the group stage.
Men’s Singles SL4 Bronze Medal match: Tarun Dhillon in trouble early doors of second game. He was down 0-5, 1-6 but has closed the gap briefly to 3-6.
Men’s Singles SL4 Bronze Medal match: Tarun had a slender lead at the half-way stage of the opener, it was all close at 16, 17 points but Setiawan pulls away from there as we caught a glimpse of a couple of costly errors from the Indian. Tarun is down 17-21, 0-3.
Men’s Singles SL4 Bronze Medal match: Tarun Dhillon and Fredy Setiawan were 16-16, then 17-17... but the Indonesian has game points now as we catch a long shot glimpse of the Indian making a couple of unforced errors.
Shooting R6 - Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH1 Qualification: Not looking particularly promising for the Indians in action here. Avani had a decent start but in her 4th series now, she is out of the top 20. Sidhartha hovering around 10th, could still make a push for it. Deepak 48th.
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match: It will begin anytime now, as the singles match comes to a close.
Men’s Singles SL4 Bronze Medal match: Tarun Dhillon is starting to push ahead slightly in this one. A 16-14 lead now.
Men’s Singles SL4 Bronze Medal match: And it is Taru who takes the slender one point lead into the interval, at 11-10. Soon after the break we are back level at 12-12. This is super close!
Men’s Singles SL4 Bronze Medal match: Tarun Dhillon had a good lead and looked set to take the advantage into the interval but Fredy goes into the lead at 10-9. Tarun levels it up for 10-10 soon.
Men’s Singles SL4 Gold Medal match: It will be world No 3 Suhas Yathiraj vs world No 1 Lucaz Mazur here, the start is delayed with the women’s singles final ongoing on Court 1.
Men’s Singles SL4 Bronze Medal match: Tarun Dhillon, the world No 2 who lost against Mazur in the semis, has started his match against Fredy Setiawan. Heading into Tokyo he had a 3-1 H2H in singles events against Fredy but the Indian lost in the group stage against the world no 4. Tarun has a decent early lead of 8-5 in this one.
Shooting R6 - Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH1 Qualification: Given there are two badminton medal events happening simultaneously, we would not be able to pay the maximum attention to what happens here for the Indian shooters, but we shall keep you posted. All three Indians are outside top 8 in the early stages.
Sidhartha: 103.3 102.1
Avani: 102.8
Deepak: 97.5
Badminton action coming up, GOLD-BRONZE AGAIN?: Suhas Yathiraj will hope to add another gold medal to India’s kitty but faces a tough ask against France’s Lucas Mazur, the top seed, in the men’s singles SL4 gold medal match. Mazur leads the head-to-head 7-2 against the Indian.
Shortly, Tarun Dhillon will be in action in the SL4 bronze medal playoff against Fredy Setiawan. The singles head-to-head for this match-up is *3-1 in favour of the Indian.
06.00 am: Hello all and welcome to our live coverage of Tokyo Paralympics Games.
And then there was this last one. Today is officially the last day of Tokyo 2020. The year 2020 was one of uncertainty for athletes around the world (and those involved with sport in general too) and there was so much that was up in the air around this time 12 or so months ago. Even a few months back, with the situation around the world (and in Tokyo) the way it was, none of us really knew what to expect. But, hey, here we are finally. From the end of July to start of September, from Olympic Games to Paralympics Games, we have made sporting memories to last a long time. Yes, sport will continue after today, and it would be an exaggeration to say too much more... but, what wouldn’t be an exaggeration is that, these Games will be missed. It was a brilliant ride. A lovely, timely reminder of why sport is special. And today is the final stop.