Indian Athletes Shine at Asian Para Games with Bronze Medals and Final Spots
Indian para badminton players secure bronze medals and advance to finals at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Nagoya.
Nagoya, October 22 (Daily Kiran) : The Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya have seen impressive performances from Indian athletes in para badminton. Sanjana Kumari and Abhijeet Sakhujha both earned bronze medals, while Nitesh Kumar, along with his partner Thulasimathi Murugesan, secured spots in their respective finals.
Sanjana Kumari made her mark in her first continental tournament by clinching a bronze in the women’s singles SL3 category. She faced Japan’s Shino Kawai in the semifinals but was defeated with scores of 7-21, 9-21.
In a standout performance, debutant Naveen secured his place in the men’s singles SL4 final by defeating fellow Indian player Abhijeet 21-13, 21-15. With this victory, Naveen emerged as a strong contender for the gold medal, while Abhijeet settled for bronze.
Nitesh, on the other hand, reached the men’s singles SL3 final after a hard-fought match against Indonesia’s Imran Muh Al. Nitesh showcased his skill and composure, winning the first game 21-19 and the second 21-16.
Despite Sanjana’s hopes for a final spot ending with her loss, winning a bronze medal in her debut at the Asian Para Games is a significant achievement. This adds to India’s medal tally.
In a thrilling mixed doubles SL3-SU5 semifinal, Nitesh and Thulasimathi pulled off a major upset against China’s Mingpan Li and Zuxian Jiao. After winning the first game 21-19, they lost the second 14-21 but rallied to win the decisive game 21-17, securing their place in the final.
This match featured intense rallies, including a remarkable 79-second rally, highlighting the physical challenges faced by the competitors. Nitesh and Thulasimathi’s resilience ensured they will compete for the gold medal against Indonesia’s Lani Nhatri Oktilla and Zikmat Ramdani in the finals.
