Teen Sensation Nithya Sre Sivan Wins Historic Bronze in SH6 Badminton at Paris Paralympics 2024

Add as a preferred source on Google

Indian para-shuttler Nithya Sre Sivan has etched her name into the annals of sports history by clinching a bronze medal in the women's singles SH6 category at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

The 19-year-old athlete from Hosur, Tamil Nadu, dominated her third-place play-off match, defeating Indonesia's Rina Marlina 21-14, 21-6 in just 23 minutes on Monday.

Nithya, who entered the tournament as the top seed in the SH6 category - a newly introduced event for athletes of short stature - had previously advanced to the bronze medal match after a tough semi-final loss to China's Lin Shuangbao, where she narrowly missed out on a spot in the final, falling 21-13, 21-19.

Her bronze medal adds to India's growing success in para-badminton, bringing India's total tally of medals at the Paralympics to 15, with five medals in badminton alone. Nithya's journey to the podium is a story of resilience and determination.

Originally inspired by cricket, a passion shared by her father and brother, Nithya's sporting ambitions shifted dramatically during the Rio Paralympics in 2016. It was her admiration for badminton legend Lin Dan, sparked by watching live broadcasts and reading about his achievements, that fuelled her desire to take up the sport.

After initially training at a local badminton academy, her focus turned to para-badminton during the 2020 lockdown, a pivot influenced by a state-level para-badminton player, a colleague of her father. This pivotal moment led her to compete in the Tamil Nadu para-badminton state championship, where her talent was unmistakable.

Encouraged by her success, Nithya sought professional training under Gaurav Khanna, the head coach of the Indian Para-Badminton team. This decision prompted her relocation to Lucknow, where she honed her skills and prepared for her Paralympic debut.

Her victory at Paris 2024 marks a significant milestone in her career and contributes to India's best-ever performance in the Paralympics. India's para-badminton team delivered a stellar performance at the Paris games.

Nitesh Kumar secured India's first gold in men's singles SL3, while Suhas Yathiraj and Thulasimathi Murugesan won silver in the SL4 and SU5 categories, respectively. Young Manisha Ramadass also claimed bronze in the SU5 category. Nithya's bronze further underscores India's growing prowess in para-badminton, highlighting a historic day for the country at the 2024 Paralympics.