India’s para-athletes have made remarkable strides at the Paris Paralympics, securing several medals on September 2, 2024, and showcasing their incredible talent and resilience.
Yogesh Kathunia (Men’s Discus Throw F56, Silver Medal)
Yogesh Kathunia, a 27-year-old para-athlete, earned his second silver medal in the men’s discus throw F56 event, marking India’s seventh medal in the Paris Paralympics. Kathunia achieved a podium finish with his best throw of 42.22 meters in the finals. Despite being diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome, which weakened his leg muscles during childhood, Yogesh has persevered. He now holds two silver medals from the Paris Paralympics and an additional two silver and one bronze from the World Championship.
Nitesh Kumar (Men’s Singles SL3 Para-badminton, Gold Medal)
Nitesh Kumar added to India’s medal tally by winning the gold medal in the men’s singles SL3 event in para-badminton. He triumphed over Daniel Bethel in a thrilling match, with scores of 21-14, 18-21, and 21-22. Nitesh’s victory marked India’s ninth medal at the Paralympics. Before securing the gold, he defeated Daisuke Fajihara of Japan in the semifinals. Nitesh, who lost his leg in a train accident in 2009, has already won four medals at the Asia Para Games and three at the World Championship before making his mark at the Paris Paralympics.
Thulasimathi Murugesan (Women’s Singles SU5 Para-badminton, Silver Medal)
Thulasimathi Murugesan secured a silver medal in the women’s singles SU5 event after a tough match against China’s Qiu Xia Yang. Despite her loss, she made history by winning her first medal at the Paralympics with a strong performance in the finals, finishing 21-17, 21-10. Thulasimathi, born with a congenital abnormality in her left hand, had previously competed in the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, where she won three gold medals.
Suhas Yathiraj (Men’s Singles SL4 Para-badminton, Silver Medal)
Suhas Yathiraj earned his second consecutive silver medal at the Paris Paralympics in the men’s singles SL4 event. He faced Lucas Mazur from France in the final, losing with scores of 21-9 and 21-13. In addition to being a para-athlete, Suhas is a proud IAS officer of the 2007 batch from the Uttar Pradesh cadre. He has previously secured gold medals in the World Championship, Asia Para Games, and Asian Championship, and now holds two silver medals from the Paris Paralympics.
Sumit Antil (Men’s Javelin F64, Gold Medal)
Sumit Antil, India’s 2024 Paralympic flag-bearer, and reigning gold medalist, continued his dominance in the men’s javelin F64 event by retaining his gold medal. He set yet another Paralympic record with a best throw of 70.59 meters, surpassing the record he previously set in Tokyo. Sumit started the event with an impressive throw of 69.11 meters and went on to break the record twice in Paris.
Manisha Rammdass (Women’s Singles SU5 Para-badminton, Bronze Medal)
Manisha Rammdass earned a bronze medal in the women’s singles SU5 event after a solid performance against Cathrine Rosengren of Denmark. She won the match with scores of 21-12 and 21-8, securing her first medal at the Paralympics. Manisha was previously named the 2022 Female Para-Badminton Player of the Year and continues making her mark in the sport.
Nithya Sre (Women’s Singles SH6 Para-badminton, Bronze Medal)
Nithya Sre became the second female para-shuttler to win a bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics in the women’s singles SH6 event. She secured her victory with a 21-14, 21-6 win over Rina Marlina of Indonesia. Nithya debuted in para-badminton in 2020 at the age of 16 and was inspired by watching the 2016 Paralympics.
Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar (Mixed Compound Para-archery, Bronze Medal)
The impeccable duo of Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar won India’s first medal in para-archery at the Paris Paralympics by clinching the bronze medal in the mixed compound event. They secured a narrow victory against Italy’s Eleonora Sarti and Matteo Bonacina, winning 156-155. Despite not securing medals in their events, the duo made up for it by bringing home a bronze medal for India in para-archery.
India’s para-athletes continue to make the nation proud with their outstanding performances at the Paris Paralympics, overcoming challenges and breaking barriers on the international stage.
