New Delhi: The Indian Paralympic contingent at the Paris 2024 Games is making waves, with athletes turning in remarkable performances. On Friday, India celebrated four new medals, bolstering the country’s high expectations. Among the standout athletes is badminton star Sivarajan Solaimalai, who has captured global attention with his incredible play.
During a men’s singles SH6 group match against Hong Kong’s Man Kai Chu, Solaimalai showcased his exceptional skills, delivering shots that quickly went viral worldwide. A video clip from the match, which features an intense rally between the two players, highlights Solaimalai’s astonishing agility and precision, earning him widespread admiration.
India’s para shuttlers have been on fire at the Paralympics, with many advancing to the next stages of the competition. In the men’s SL3 category, Kumar Nitesh dominated his match against China’s Yang Jianyuan, securing a straight-sets victory with a score of 21-5, 21-11. Similarly, Suhas L Yathiraj impressed in the SL4 category, overcoming Korea’s Shin Kyung Hwan in a tightly contested match, finishing with scores of 26-24, 21-14.
On the women’s side, Thulsimathi Murugesan secured a semifinal spot in the SL3 category after defeating Portugal’s Beatriz Monterio in straight sets, 21-12, 21-8. Nithya Sre also emerged victorious, beating Chinese Taipei’s Cai Yi-Lin with a scoreline of 21-12, 21-19. However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Mansi Joshi and Manoj Sarkar faced tough opponents and were eliminated after hard-fought matches, while Palak Kohli also battled valiantly before bowing out. As the Games continue, India’s largest-ever Paralympic contingent remains focused on surpassing their historic performance in Tokyo 2020, where they claimed 19 medals.
