Paris: Indian para-shuttlers, including Tokyo silver medallist Suhas Yathiraj, made a strong start at the Paris Paralympics, with eight singles players securing victories in their respective opening group matches here on Thursday.
In the SL4 category, all three Indians -- Suhas, Sukant Kadam and Tarun -- won their opening matches. Nitesh Kumar (SL3), Palak Kohli (SL4), Thulasimathi Murugesan (SU5), Manisha Ramadass (SU5), and Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan (SH6) also cleared the first hurdle later in the day.
Athletes with lower limb impairments and minor balance issues in walking or running compete in the SL4 class, while SL3 is for those with more severe lower limb disabilities, requiring play on a half-width court.
SU5 includes athletes with upper limb impairments, and SH6 is for players of short stature.
The highlight of the day was a gritty performance by Sukant Kadam. The 31-year-old from Maharashtra, who suffered a knee injury after a fall in a cricket field at the age of 10, recovered from an opening game setback to defeat Malaysia’s Mohammed Amin Burhanuddin 17-21, 21-15, 22-20 in his opening Group B match.
Sukant staged a remarkable comeback, winning six consecutive points after trailing 16-20 in the decider.
“Playing at this level, with the crowd cheering for us, is fantastic! I was determined to give it my all, with 100% speed and never giving up. We were prepared for this situation and knew how to handle the pressure and the crowd,” Sukant said.
Suhas, a 2007 batch IAS officer, breezed past Indonesia’s Hikmat Ramdani 21-7, 21-5 in his Group A match, which lasted just 22 minutes.
Playing in his second Paralympics, Tarun, who suffered a serious knee injury in a football accident, defeated Brazil’s Oliveira Rogerio Junior Xavier 21-17, 21-19 in men’s singles SL4 Group D.
Nitesh, a 29-year-old IIT Mandi graduate, and Thulasimathi Murugesan had a successful day, first winning their mixed doubles opener and then securing victories in their respective singles group matches.
Nitesh fought hard to overcome compatriot Manoj Sarkar, a Tokyo bronze medallist, with a 21-13, 18-21, 21-18 win in men’s singles SL3 Group A.
Thulasimathi, a veterinary science student from Tamil Nadu, showed her class by defeating Italy’s Rosa Efomo de Marco 21-9, 21-11 in SU5 Group A.
Palak, who was born with an underdeveloped left arm, eased to a 21-12, 21-14 win over France’s Milena Surreau in a women’s singles SL4 Group C match.
Manisha Ramadass registered a 8-21, 21-6, 21-19 win over local hope Maud Lefort in women’s singles SU5 Group C, while Nithya thrashed USA’s Jayci Simon 21-7, 21-8 in women’s singles SH6 Group A.
Earlier in the day, Nitesh and Thulasimathi also started strong in mixed doubles, defeating compatriots Suhas Yathiraj and Palak Kohli 21-14, 21-17 in their Group A match, which lasted 31
minutes.