Indian Paralympians Shine with 24 Medals at Japan Para Badminton International

Indian para-badminton players delivered a stellar performance at the Japan Para Badminton International, taking home an impressive 24 medals, including six gold, nine silver, and nine bronze, as the tournament concluded on Sunday. Their achievements were celebrated as a sign of the growing strength and dedication of India’s para-badminton community.

Sivarajan Solaimalai was a standout, capturing two gold medals. He secured victory in the men’s singles SH6 class and paired up with Sudarsan Saravanakumar Muthusamy to take home the gold in men’s doubles. These wins show Solaimalai’s determination and skill in both individual and team events, making him one of the event’s top performers.

Sukant Kadam, another top contender, showed resilience throughout the competition, earning gold in the singles and silver in the doubles event. Partnering with Dinesh, Kadam faced stiff competition in the men’s doubles final, ultimately losing to fellow Indians Umesh Vikram Kumar and Surya Kant Yadav. 

The three-set match was a close contest, ending 5-21, 22-20, 16-21. Despite the loss, Kadam expressed his pride in the team’s performance and the collective achievements of India’s para-badminton squad.

“Winning gold in singles and silver in doubles is incredibly special,” Kadam shared in a press release. “I thank my coaches, support team, and the entire para-badminton community for their unwavering support. This victory fuels my motivation to keep pushing boundaries.”

Paralympic champion Kumar Nitesh also delivered a commendable performance, narrowly missing gold in the SL3 finals. He lost to Japan’s Daisuke Fujihara in a tight three-set match (16-21, 21-18, 19-21), taking home the silver.

On the women’s side, Manisha Ramdass shone brightly, defeating Japan’s Mamiko Toyoda 21-12, 21-18 to win gold in the SU5 category. Meanwhile, Neeraj secured two silver medals, one in the women’s SL3 singles category and another in mixed doubles with Surya Kant Yadav in the SL3-SU5 event.

In men’s doubles SU5, the pair of Hardik Makkar and Ruthick Ragupati claimed gold, while Dev Rathi and Indonesia’s Bartlomiej Mroz settled for silver. Hardik and Ruthick also added individual honours, with Hardik taking silver and Ruthick earning bronze in men’s singles SU5.

Additional highlights included Abu Hubaida and Prem Kumar Ale’s bronze in the men’s doubles WH1-WH2 category and Alphia James’s silver in the women’s singles WH2 category.

India’s remarkable 24-medal haul at the Japan Para Badminton International highlights the country’s increasing success and dedication to para-badminton, with each athlete’s performance a testament to their hard work and passion for the sport.