Indian star shuttler Suhas Yathiraj created history as he won a silver medal at the ongoing Paris Paralympics 2024. Suhas lost his final match in the SL4 event to the defending champion Lucas Mazur 9-21, 13-21 in straight games. Suhas has become the first Indian shuttler to win two medals at the Paralympics.
The 41-year-old Suhas, who has served as a District Magistrate of Gautam Buddh Nagar and Prayagraj, had won a silver medal in the Tokyo Paralympics too. He had lost to the same opponent in Tokyo too and hardly gave him a tough fight in Paris.
He trailed big in the first game and despite his best attempts, the Indian could not stop the indomitable-looking game of the French athlete. Suhas tried his best in the second round too, but was way behind the defending champion and could withstand the storm of Lucas.
India won four badminton medals in the previous Paralympics with Suhas being one of the medal winners in Tokyo. Prime Minister Modi congratulated Suhas on winning his second silver medal. "A spectacular accomplishment as Suhas Yathiraj wins the prestigious Silver medal in the Men’s Singles SL4 Badminton event at the #Paralympics2024! India rejoices at his success. We are proud of his tenacity and commitment to sports," he wrote in a post on X.
This was India's fourth badminton medal of the day after Nitesh Kumar, Murugesan Thulasimathi and Manisha Ramadass won medals in their respective categories. Nitesh won the gold in the men's singles SL3 event. Thulasimathi clinched a silver in the women's singles SU5 category, while Manisha took a bronze in the same event.
Avani Lekhara and Mona Agarwal were the first ones to bag medals at the ongoing Summer Games. Avani won gold while Mona took bronze in the R2 - Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1. Manish Narwal took home a silver in the P1 - Men's 10m Air Pistol SH1 category, while Rubina Francis was the latest shooter to bag a medal. She clinched a bronze in the P2 - Women's 10m Air Pistol SH1 event. Preethi Pal became India's first track medallist at the Paralympics as she won a bronze in the Women's 100m - T35 category.
