Paris, Sept 2: India continued its impressive run at the Paris Paralympics on Sunday, adding two more medals to its tally in athletics and securing multiple podium finishes in para badminton. The nation’s total now stands at seven medals, with more expected as the Games progress.Sprinter Preethi Pal was the first to bring home a medal on this action-packed day, earning a bronze in the 200m T35 event. This marks her second medal of the Games, having already claimed bronze in the 100m event earlier. Preethi’s consistent performances have made her one of the standout athletes for India at these Paralympics.
Later in the day, high jumper Nishad Kumar made it back-to-back silver medals, repeating his Tokyo Paralympics success in the men’s high jump T47 category. Nishad’s performance was a testament to his exceptional skill and determination, as he once again secured a place on the podium for India.
India’s para badminton contingent also had a stellar day, with three more medals guaranteed. In the Men’s Singles SL4 category, Suhas Yathiraj defeated compatriot Sukant Kadam 21-17, 21-12 in the semifinal, assuring himself of at least a silver. Kadam will now compete for the bronze, adding to India’s strong chances in the sport.
In another all-Indian affair, the Men’s Singles SL3 semifinal saw Nitesh Kumar defeat Japan’s Daisuke Fujihara 21-16, 21-12. Nitesh’s victory secured him a spot in the final, where he will aim for gold.
In the women’s events, Manisha Ramadass and Thulasimathi Murugesan faced off in the Women’s Singles SL3 semifinal, ensuring India its first female medallist in para badminton at the Paralympics. Thulasimathi emerged victorious in a tightly contested match, winning 23-21, 21-17, to advance to the final, while Manisha will compete for the bronze.
In the SH6 category, Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan showcased her resilience by defeating Poland’s Oliwia Szmigiel in the quarterfinals. However, she fell short in the semifinals against China’s Lin, setting her up for a bronze medal match.
In para archery, Rakesh Kumar faced a day of mixed emotions. He advanced to the semifinal in the men’s individual event after a tense shoot-off victory against Canada’s Kyle Tremblay. However, his journey ended just shy of a medal, as he lost both his semifinal match to China’s Ai Xinliang and the bronze medal match to He Zihao. Despite the disappointment, Rakesh’s performance demonstrated the competitive spirit and skill of Indian para-athletes.
As India’s athletes continue to perform at the highest level, the nation eagerly anticipates more successes in the coming days of the Paralympics. With several medals already secured and more in sight, this edition of the Games is proving to be a landmark event for Indian para-sports.