Tokyo: A pair of india mixed teams from Pramod Bhagat and Palak Kohli went down against the second seed Lucas Mazur and Faustine Noel in the opening group B of the Badminton event in Tokyo Paralympics, here on Wednesday.
Bhagat and Kohli, competing in the SL3-SU5 class, fell 9-21, 21-15, 19-21 against the French team in 43 minutes at Yoyogi National Stadium.
The Indian couple found it difficult at first because it was left behind 5-11 at the interval.
Things don’t change much after the breath like the French duo is enlarged and quickly pocketed the opening game.
In the second game, the Indian duo gives a better account about themselves when they fight teeth and nails and get tin two slim points at 13-11.
Mazur and Noel grabbed a point but the Indian couple wore seven points directly to reach the point of the game.
Their opponents saved two points before Bhagat and Kohli roared back into the contest.
In decider, the second seed opened a 13-9 advantage but Bhagat and Kohli fought back to lead 15-14.
However, Mazur and Noel immediately won the lead and finally added an Indian partner.
Thailand Pair of Siripong Teamarrom and Saensupa Nipada is the third team in Group B.
Bhagat, who is a ruling world champion, will compete in Singles Men (SL3) too, while Kohli will participate in women’s doubles (SL3-SU5) with parul parmar and parmar Women’s single (SU5).