Paris
At the Paris Paralympics on Friday, Indian shuttler Nitesh Kumar secured a comfortable victory in the men’s singles SL3 Group A event, defeating China’s Jianyuan Yang 21-5, 21-11. Nitesh dominated the match from the start, leaving Yang struggling to keep up with his pace and intensity.
In contrast, Manoj Kumar faced a tough challenge against Thailand’s Mongkhon Bunsun, losing in straight sets 19-21, 8-21. Manoj showed determination in the first set, pushing the game to the wire, but Bunsun held his nerve to take the lead. In the second set, Bunsun maintained control, and Manoj was unable to find a response, ultimately falling short.
Earlier, Manasi Joshi was knocked out of the women’s singles SL3 Group A event after a dramatic comeback by Ukraine’s Oksana Kozyna at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena. Manasi started strong, winning the first set 21-10. However, Oksana rallied back in the second set, leveling the match 15-21. In a closely contested decider, Oksana edged past Manasi 21-23, ending Manasi’s campaign.
India has sent its largest-ever contingent to the Paralympics this year, with 84 athletes across 12 sports, reflecting the country’s growing focus on para-sports. With hopes of surpassing its Tokyo 2020 achievements, where Indian badminton players won four medals, including two golds, the Paris 2024 Paralympics present a significant opportunity for the nation.
