Paris Paralympics: Eight Indian Para-Shuttlers Shine on Day 1; Strong Start for Suhas Yathiraj, Sukant Kadam

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Paris, Aug 29: The Indian para-shuttlers made an impressive start at the Paris Paralympics on Thursday (August 29), with eight singles players securing victories in their respective opening group matches.

Among the standout performers was Tokyo silver medallist Suhas Yathiraj, who led the charge in the SL4 category, along with his compatriots Sukant Kadam and Tarun.

In the SL4 category, all three Indian players - Suhas, Sukant, and Tarun - emerged victorious in their opening matches. Joining them in success were Nitesh Kumar (SL3), Palak Kohli (SL4), Thulasimathi Murugesan (SU5), Manisha Ramadass (SU5), and Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan (SH6), who also cleared their first hurdles later in the day.

Athletes with lower limb impairments and minor balance issues in walking or running compete in the SL4 class, while SL3 is for those with more severe lower limb disabilities, requiring play on a half-width court. SU5 includes athletes with upper limb impairments, and SH6 is for players of short stature.

The highlight of the day was a gritty performance by Sukant Kadam. The 31-year-old from Maharashtra, who suffered a knee injury after a fall on a cricket field at the age of 10, displayed remarkable resilience. After an opening game setback, he staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Malaysia's Mohammed Amin Burhanuddin 17-21, 21-15, 22-20 in his opening Group B match.

Trailing 16-20 in the decider, Sukant won six consecutive points to clinch the victory. "Playing at this level, with the crowd cheering for us, is fantastic! I was determined to give it my all, with 100% speed and never give up. We were prepared for this situation and knew how to handle the pressure and the crowd," Sukant said.

Suhas Yathiraj, a 2007 batch IAS officer, breezed past Indonesia's Hikmat Ramdani 21-7, 21-5 in his Group A match, which lasted just 22 minutes. Playing in his second Paralympics, Suhas showcased his dominance, leaving no room for his opponent to mount any challenge.

Tarun, who suffered a serious knee injury in a football accident, continued India's winning streak by defeating Brazil's Oliveira Rogerio Junior Xavier 21-17, 21-19 in men's singles SL4 Group D. His performance was marked by precise shot-making and strategic court coverage, ensuring a straight-sets win.

Nitesh Kumar, a 29-year-old IIT Mandi graduate, and Thulasimathi Murugesan had a successful day, first winning their mixed doubles opener and then securing victories in their respective singles group matches.

Nitesh fought hard to overcome compatriot Manoj Sarkar, a Tokyo bronze medallist, with a 21-13, 18-21, 21-18 win in men's singles SL3 Group A. Thulasimathi, a veterinary science student from Tamil Nadu, showed her class by defeating Italy's Rosa Efomo de Marco 21-9, 21-11 in SU5 Group A.

Palak Kohli, who was born with an underdeveloped left arm, eased to a 21-12, 21-14 win over France's Milena Surreau in a women's singles SL4 Group C match. Her ability to control the game from the backcourt and execute accurate smashes was on full display.

Manisha Ramadass registered a 8-21, 21-6, 21-19 win over local hope Maud Lefort in women's singles SU5 Group C, while Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan thrashed USA's Jayci Simon 21-7, 21-8 in women's singles SH6 Group A.

Earlier in the day, Nitesh and Thulasimathi also started strong in mixed doubles, defeating compatriots Suhas Yathiraj and Palak Kohli 21-14, 21-17 in their Group A match, which lasted 31 minutes. The duo's coordinated play and swift movements proved too much for their opponents.

However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for the Indian contingent. Mandeep Kaur and Manasi Joshi lost their respective women's singles SL3 group stage matches, while the mixed doubles duo of Sivarajan Solaimalai and Nithya Sre, seeded second, fell in straight games to the American pair of Miles Krajewski and Jayci Simon.

Manasi Joshi, a 2019 world champion whose leg was amputated after a road accident in 2011, took the opening game but couldn't maintain the pressure, losing 21-16, 13-21, 18-21 to Indonesia's Qonitah Ikhtiar Syakuroh in Group A. Mandeep Kaur, who switched to badminton from arm wrestling after surgery in 2018, struggled against Nigeria's Mariam Eniola Bolaji, losing 8-21, 14-21 in Group B.

In their Group B match, Sivarajan and Nithya put up a tough fight but eventually went down 21-23, 11-21 to the American pair in the SH6 category. Despite their efforts, they were unable to overcome the precise play of their opponents.