JavaScript is not available.

Tokyo Paralympics: Indian shuttler Manoj Sarkar beat Japan's Daisuke Fujihara 22-20,21-13 in a pulsating to bronze in the men's singles (SL3) badminton category. India's Manoj Sarkar on Saturday won the bronze medal in the men's singles (SL3) badminton event to better India's medal tally at the ongoing Tokyo Paralympics in Japan. He defeated Japan's Daisuke Fujihara 22-20,21-13 in the final to continue's India's medal rush. 

Manoj Sarkar wins bronze medal in men's singles badminton Tokyo Paralympics 2020

Manoj had to battle hard against his Japanese counterpart in the first game.  Despite leading 18-14, the Indian was taken aback by Fujihara's comeback, who stormed to the game point opportunity first. However, Manoj kept his nerves and eventually claimed the game 22-20. 

Manoj Sarkar wins bronze medal in men's singles badminton Tokyo Paralympics 2020

In 19 minutes, he won the second game 21-13 to seal another medal for the country in badminton.

Earlier, Manoj's Paralympics campaign did not get off to a bright start in Group A. He lost his first game 10-21, 23-21,9-21 to compatriot Pramod Bhagat. 

However, he won his second group 21-16,21-9 against Ukraine's Oleksandr Chyrkov to make the semifinals. In the last-four stage, he went to Great Britain's Daniel Bethell 8-21,10-21 to qualify for the bronze medal match. 

In the semifinals, 31-year-old Manoj, who whose right leg was affected after he contracted polio at age one, couldn't get into any sort of rhythm against second seeded Great Britain's Daniel Bethell, going down 8-21 10-21 in the men's singles SL3 class.

But he recovered quickly from the defeat to produce a superb show to claim the bronze.

Sarkar had taken up badminton at age five but it was the passion to win against his elder brothers which led him to play the sports seriously. He played inter-school competition against able-bodied players till the 11th grade before starting to compete in para-badminton in 2011.

He won a gold medal in the SL3 singles at the 2016 Asian Championships in Beijing. In 2018, he received the Arjuna Award and a year later, he was named Para Sportsman of the Year at the Sportstar Aces Awards.

Congratulations to Manoj Sarkar for winning the bronze medal in badminton at #Paralympics. This is a praiseworthy achievement indeed. My best wishes that you bring more glory to the nation in the future.

President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 4, 2021

Overjoyed by @manojsarkar07s wonderful performance. Congrats to him for bringing home the prestigious Bronze Medal in badminton. Wishing in the very best for the times ahead. #Paralympics #Praise4Para

Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 4, 2021

Many congratulations to Pramod Bhagat on winning Gold medal and Manoj Sarkar for bagging Bronze medal in the Men#39s Badminton Singles SL3 event at Tokyo #Paralympics 2020. The nation is proud of their accomplishments. Best wishes for many more laurels in the future. #Praise4Para pic.twitter.com/SaIqiEB7VW

Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) September 4, 2021

MANOJ bags BRONZE !

We are witnessing Paralympics history in the making!

Men#39s Singles SL3 Bronze
Indias 17th medal at #Tokyo2020 Paralympics!#Cheer4India #Praise4Para#Paralympics pic.twitter.com/TF2oFqF0AR

Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) September 4, 2021

What more we Indians can ask on saturday, wake-up in the morning with Gold and Silver. Now Champion @PramodBhagat83 jis Gold and @manojsarkar07 bronze made this sarurday eve a gala and memorable eve of our life. KUDOOS!!! Champs...@ianuragthakur @DeepaAthlete @MediaSAI pic.twitter.com/j3pwRBVenw

Nisith Pramanik (@NisithPramanik) September 4, 2021

Manoj Wins Bronze!!

Our heartiest congratulations to @manojsarkar07 on winning a bronze medal and ensuring its 2nd double podium finish of the day

Your remarkable resilience and dedication has inspired us all #Cheer4India#Praise4Para pic.twitter.com/ef2eHwok8v

SAI Media (@MediaSAI) September 4, 2021

Congratulations @PramodBhagat83 on scripting history as the first Paralympian to win in .
Well done @manojsarkar07 as well on securing the #bronze for India.

So happy to see our para athletes shine! #Paralympics #Praise4Para pic.twitter.com/gdC6AApoOF

Sachin Tendulkar (@sachinrt) September 4, 2021

BRONZE MEDAL ALERT

And we have our second Medal in Badminton

Manoj Sarkar wins a medal in SL3

Manoj Wins Medal beating #Jpn
Second #ParaBadminton Medal
Seventeenth YES 17th Medal

Congratulations Sir @manojsarkar07 pic.twitter.com/rrb8KuLnPX

IndiaSportsHub (@IndiaSportsHub) September 4, 2021

Thank you @ParalympicIndia, @MediaSAI, and the whole of India for supporting me through my journey. Today#39s result is a testimony of what sheer grit hard work can achieve with the right support. This is dedicated to you all.#ParaBadminton #Praise4Para pic.twitter.com/6uGmnTMHu2

Manoj Sarkar (@manojsarkar07) September 5, 2021