NAGOYA - Two-time Paralympic gold medalist Daiki Kajiwara captured gold in the men's singles WH2 badminton final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games on Friday, notching his 200th consecutive international victory.
The 24-year-old Kajiwara beat South Korea's Yu Soo Young 21-10, 18-21, 24-22 in Ichinomiya, Aichi Prefecture.
Kajiwara played baseball before losing his right leg in a bicycle accident during his second year of junior high school.
"I'm really happy. It was such a strange match that I still can't quite understand how I managed to win," Kajiwara said after suffering cramps in both arms late in the match, making it difficult for him to maneuver his wheelchair.
Sarina Satomi and Shino Kawai won the women's singles WH1 and women's singles SL3 gold, respectively.
In para athletics, Yudai Shimazu, who previously competed in Japan's prestigious university ekiden relay race, won the men's 5,000-meter T12/T13 final.
Shimazu's field of vision has progressively narrowed since his university days due to retinitis pigmentosa, leaving him with limited sight in the lower and outer areas of his visual field
"Even if I lose my sight, I will probably still be able to hear those sounds. But I do not know when the last time I see all this will be. I kept that in mind during the race, and I have tried to hold on to the memory."
Among other action, five-time Paralympic swimmer Keiichi Kimura won the men's 100-meter butterfly S11 title.
"So many people came to watch us...I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to experience this moment as an athlete," Kimura said.
