Pramod Bhagat: My responsibility is to enhance image of para badminton in India

Indias world No 1 para shuttler Pramod Bhagat is determined to win a medal at the ongoing Tokyo Paralympics in order to enhance the popularity of the sport in the countryBadminton as a sport is being introduced for the first time at the Paralympics and Bhagat is part of the sevenmember contingent that will represent India at the GamesBhagat 33 feels there is a huge responsibility on his shoulders to attract the attention of the masses to the sport by performing well in TokyoBadminton is being played for the first time in the Paralympics and there is a huge responsibility on me to take the countrys parabadminton ahead and enhance the image of the sport in the country If I win a medal the spotlight will be on the sport and doors will open for others who are keen to take up the sport in the country Bhagat told middaycom on Tuesday The 2019 Arjuna awardee who was detected with polio in his left leg at the age of five admits feeling pressure as he prepares to leave for Tokyo on Friday but said it will only help him perform betterThere is pressure but it always helps me do well Last time too when I was nominated for the Arjuna award I was heading for the world championships at Basel Switzerland and there was pressure as I wanted to receive the award with the pride of being the world champion This time too I have been nominated for the Khel Ratna award so I want to justify it by winning a medal said the current Asian Games champion who will kick off his campaign in Tokyo on September 1Bhagat will enter the competition in Tokyo on the back of two gold medals in singles and doubles with Manoj Sarkar at the Dubai ParaBadminton tournament in AprilI have faced all the competitors who qualified for the tournament and have won most of the time So Im confident of a good performance I just need to focus on giving my best and results will take care of itself said the southpaw who will be participating in the singles SL3 standinglower limb impairmentminor and mixed doubles events Bhagat believes he has more chances of winning a medal in singles than in mixed doubles in which he will partner Punjabrsquos Palak Kohli SL5upper limb impairmentIt is difficult managing two formats but we have trained well and we finished third in Dubai We have gelled well Though she Palak is young and lacks experience we are confident of putting up a fight explained the shuttler who hails from Attabira in Barghar district of OdishaA selfconfessed cricket fan Bhagat took to badminton in 2002 and has not looked back since ldquoI started playing badminton in 2002 and when I started doing well at the district level it gave me confidence that I can do well in the sport When I got to know about parabadminton in 2005 I decided to give it a shot and I emerged champion in the very first tournament I participated in Thats when I decided I wanted to become a professional and since then have dedicated my life to excel in the sport Bhagat revealedLike most paraathletes Bhagat said he too had his share of huge challenges but that has made him more determinedIf you see there are challenges in the life of every athlete Even when I met Indias chief badminton coach Pullela Gopichand he too said he had to face numerous challenges in his life But the challenges we have are more than compared to the normal athletes We first have to fight with ourselves Then we have to prove to the world My only motivation is that I need to do something worthwhile in life he reckonedBhagat credits his success to his late parents and believes winning a medal will fulfil their dreamIt was my parents dream that I should participate in the Olympics Though they are not in this world now they always wanted me to become a good athlete and I will always be thankful to them for where Im today Im sure their blessing will be with me and if I win a medal I would like to dedicate it to them he signed offAlso Read Herersquos why Nikki Bella missed exfiance John Cenarsquos fight