The Indian para-badminton team has etched its name in the history books with a spectacular performance at the Asian Para Badminton Championships 2025, securing an unprecedented 27 medals. The tournament, held at the SPADT Convention Center in Thailand from June 17th to 22nd, witnessed India's para-shuttlers dominate across various categories, showcasing the nation's growing strength in the sport.
The impressive medal haul includes 4 gold, 10 silver, and 13 bronze medals, marking India's best-ever performance at the Asian Para Badminton Championships. This achievement underscores the depth of talent and the effectiveness of the training and support systems that have been put in place for para-athletes in India.
Among the stars who shone brightly at the championships were Nitesh Kumar, a gold medalist at the Paris Paralympics; Thulasimathi Murugesan, a silver medalist at the same event; and Manisha Ramadass, a bronze medalist. Their success, along with the achievements of other team members, is a testament to their dedication, hard work, and unwavering spirit.
Nitesh Kumar proved to be a standout performer, securing gold in the Men's Singles SL3 category. He also paired with Thulasimathi Murugesan to win gold in the Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5 category and with Sukant Kadam to win another gold in the Men's Doubles SL3-SL4 category. Manisha Ramadass clinched gold in the Women's Singles SU5 category, further adding to India's gold rush.
Other notable performances include Krishna Nagar and Nithya's silver in the Mixed Doubles SH6, Mandeep Kaur's silver in the Women's Singles SL3, and Palak Kohli's silver in the Women's Singles SL4. Ruthick Raghupati and Manasi Joshi secured silver in the Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, while Nithya Sre bagged silver in the Women's Singles SH6. Nithya Sre and Rachna Patel also won silver in the Women's Doubles SH6, Suryakant Yadav in the Men's Singles SL4, Jagdish Dilli and Naveen Shivakumar in the Men's Doubles SL3-SL4, Ruthick Raghupati and Hardik Makkar in the Men's Doubles SU5, and Manasi Joshi and Thulasimathi Murugesan in the Women's Doubles SL3-SU5.
The bronze medalists also contributed significantly to India's success. Manasi Joshi won bronze in the Women's Singles SL3, Naveen Shivakumar in the Men's Singles SL4, Abhijeet Sakhuja and Arbaz Ansari in the Men's Doubles SL3-SL4, Umesh Vikaram Kumar in the Men's Singles SL3, Prem Ale and Abu Hubaida in the Men's Doubles WH1-WH2, Alphia James and Pallavi Kaluvehalli M in the Women's Doubles WH1-WH2, Thulasimathi Murugesan in the Women's Singles SU5, and Krishna Nagar in the Men's Singles SH-6.
Gaurav Khanna, Head National Coach of the para-badminton team, expressed his pride in the team's accomplishments. He highlighted the remarkable growth of para-badminton in India, noting the increase in participants at the national level and the significant rise in the number of Indian players registered globally. He also pointed out that Indian para-athletes have won over 1300 medals in BWF-recognized events, making para-badminton one of the highest medal-winning Paralympic sports in India.
This historic achievement at the Asian Para Badminton Championships 2025 is a moment of great pride for the nation and a testament to the potential of para-sports in India. It is expected that this success will further boost the popularity of para-badminton and inspire more individuals with disabilities to take up the sport.
