In a remarkable display of skill and perseverance, Indian para-badminton players Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manisha Ramadass clinched silver and bronze medals, respectively, in the women’s singles SU5 class at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Their outstanding performances not only showcased their exceptional talent but also marked a historic moment for Indian badminton.
Thulasimathi Murugesan Secures Silver Medal
At just 22 years old, Thulasimathi Murugesan emerged as the top seed in the women’s singles SU5 class. Despite her commendable efforts, she settled for the silver medal after a challenging final match. Thulasimathi faced off against Yang Qiu Xia of the People’s Republic of China, the reigning gold medallist from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. The match ended with Yang Qiu Xia emerging victorious with scores of 21-17 and 21-10 in just 30 minutes. The dominance of Yang Qiu Xia was evident as she effectively utilized her skills to secure her second consecutive gold medal.
Manisha Ramadass Wins Bronze Medal
In a standout performance, Manisha Ramadass, aged 19 and seeded second, clinched the bronze medal in the same category. Manisha displayed her prowess by defeating Cathrine Rosengren of Denmark, who was the third seed. The match concluded with Manisha winning decisively with scores of 21-12 and 21-8 in only 25 minutes. This achievement was particularly significant as it marked the first time an Indian woman has won a medal in badminton at the Paralympics.
Historic Medal Tally for India
The two medals won by Thulasimathi and Manisha contributed to India’s growing success at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, taking the country’s total medal tally to 11. This achievement is notable as it is only the second time in Paralympic history that India has crossed the 10-medal mark. The only other occasion was at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, where India won a record 19 medals.
Head-to-Head and Previous Achievements
In the semi-finals, Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manisha Ramadass faced each other. Thulasimathi utilized her experience to edge out Manisha in a closely contested first game and eventually won the match with scores of 23-21 and 21-17.
Thulasimathi Murugesan, who is a student of veterinary science, previously won the gold medal at the Asian Para Games last year. Manisha Ramadass, on the other hand, is a 2022 world champion in the SU5 class. Athletes competing in the SU5 class have impairments of the upper limbs, which could affect either the playing or non-playing hand. The “SU” stands for Standing/Upper.
Nitesh Kumar’s Achievement
Earlier in the day, Nitesh Kumar made headlines by winning India’s first gold medal in badminton at Paris 2024 in the SL3 class. This victory further highlighted the remarkable achievements of Indian para-athletes at the Games.