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Japanese para-tennis player, Tokito Oda on Saturday, September 7 became the youngest Paralympic wheelchair tennis men’s singles champion after he defeated World No. 1 ranked Alfie Hewett of Great Britain at the Roland Garros. The Japanese star player defeated the top-seeded player, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 in the final to clinch the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Moreover, with Oda winning the gold, he stopped Great Britain’s Alfie from matching Shingo Kunieda's record as he remains the only player who has completed Golden Slam in men’s singles. Oda, who was over the moon after winning the summit clash, emerged into a brilliant celebration.
Tokito Oda removes wheels from chair in celebration after gold medal win at Paris Paralympics
The 18-year-old, who entered the Paris Paralympic Games after winning the Wimbledon 2024 title, beating his Great Britain opponent, brought up a brilliant celebration. The Japanese para-tennis athlete took off a wheel from his wheelchair and lied down on the court to celebrate his win. Meanwhile, his opponent walked up to Oda to congratulate him and handed the broken wheel as the latter was helped by the guides.
Watch Tokito Oda celebrate his Paris Paralympic Games gold medal win:
Notably, 12 years ago on September 8, while Japan’s Oda watched from his hospital bed, Shingo Kunieda won the men’s singles title in wheelchair tennis at the 2012 London Paralympic Games. Almost exactly to this day, on September 7, the Tokyo 2020, Beijing 2008 and London 2012 champion was in the stands at Paris 2024 to watch the teenager lift the title.
It is to be noted that earlier, the Great Britain pair of Hewett and Gordon Reid had defeated Oda and Takuya Miki to become the only men’s doubles pair to complete the Golden Slam.
I couldn’t give it to the other countries: Oda
“In Tokyo, he got a gold medal, and now I couldn’t give it to the other countries and guys. I had to defend,” Oda told Olympics.com. “Here it’s one of my best places to play tennis. In two years, I haven’t lost in singles here. I became No. 1 here in 2023 and this year, I win the Grand Slam, and then now I win this. I win this medal. I like Paris,” Oda added.
