Indian para-badminton stars showcased their talent at the British & Irish Para Badminton 2025, securing an impressive haul of 21 medals.
A Stellar Performance in Sheffield
The Indian para-badminton contingent put on a strong display at the British & Irish Para Badminton 2025, a prestigious Level 1 event on the BWF circuit. Their outstanding efforts resulted in a total of 21 medals.
This impressive tally included three gold, five silver, and thirteen bronze medals, highlighting India’s growing prominence in the international para-badminton scene.
Golden Moments for India
One of India’s gold medals came from Nithya Sre in the women’s singles SH6 final. The 2024 Paris Paralympics bronze medallist clinched a thrilling victory against Peru’s Giuliana Poveda, with a final score of 21-11, 21-23, 21-11.
The women’s singles SU5 final saw an all-India clash between Paralympic medallists Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manisha Ramadass. Thulasimathi emerged victorious after an exciting comeback, winning 18-21, 21-17, 21-16.
India’s third gold medal was secured in the men’s doubles SL3-SL4 category. The formidable pair of Jagdish Dilli and Naveen Sivakumar defeated fellow countrymen Umesh Kumar and Surya Kant Yadav in the final, marking a clean sweep for India in this division, as Deep Ranjan Bisoyee and Manoj Sarkar also secured bronze.
Silver and Bronze Successes
World number two Sukant Kadam earned a silver medal in the men’s singles SL4 category. He faced a tough challenge, ultimately losing to Paralympic Champion Lucas Mazur of France in the final.
Reflecting on his performance, Sukant stated, “I gave it everything on court, and reaching the final at a Level 1 event is a big boost. Matches like these help me improve, and I’m taking away valuable lessons to refine my game for the Paralympics.”
Tokyo Paralympic gold medallist Krishna Nagar also contributed to the medal tally, securing a bronze medal. Additionally, India saw silver and bronze medals in the men’s SL3 category, claimed by Umesh Vikram Kumar and Manoj Sarkar, respectively, in a category where Paralympic champion Nitesh Kumar was unfortunately absent due to visa issues.
- Gold Medal: Nithya Sre (Women’s singles SH 6), Thulasimathi Murugesan (Women’s singles SU5), Jagdish Dilli-Naveen Sivakumar (Men’s Doubles SL3-SL4)
- Silver Medal: Sukant Kadam (Men’s Singles SL4), Manisha Ramadass (Women’s Singles SU5), Umesh Kumar-Surya Kant Yadav (Men’s Doubles SL3-SL4), Umesh Kumar (Men’s Singles SL3)
- Bronze Medal: Krishan Nagar (Men’s Singles SH6), Krishna Nagar-Nithya (Mixed Doubles SH6), Mandeep Kaur (Women’s Singles SL3), Naveen Sivakumar (Men’s Singles SL4), Manoj Sarkar (Men’s Singles SL3)
This impressive medal haul underscores India’s rising dominance and the hard work of its para-badminton athletes on the international stage, setting a strong precedent for future tournaments.
