Indian para badminton contingent displayed a strong performance clinching 21 medals including three gold, five silver, and 13 bronze medals at the British & Irish Para Badminton 2025, a Level 1 event on the BWF circuit.
2024 Paris Paralympics bronze medallist Nithya Sre won the gold medal in the women’s singles SH6 final with a thrilling victory over Peru’s Giuliana Poveda 21-11, 21-23, 21-11. In the women’s singles SU5 final, it was an all India final between Paralympic medallists Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manisha Ramadass with Thulasimathi prevailing despite losing the first game. After losing 18-21 in the first game, she came back brilliantly to win the next two games 21-17 and 21-16 to clinch the title.
India’s third gold medal came in the men’s doubles SL3-SL4 category as the pair of Jagdish Dilli and Naveen Sivakumar won the gold defeating fellow countrymen Umesh Kumar and Surya Kant Yadav. India clean swept the category as Deep Ranjan Bisoyee and Manoj Sarkar won the bronze medal.
World number two Sukant Kadam won the silver medal in the men’s singles SL4 category losing to Paralympic Champion Lucas Mazur of France in the final. Tokyo Paralympic gold medallist Krishna Nagar won a bronze medal. “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,” said Sukant after his win.
India missed a golden chance in the men’s SL3 category where Paralympic champion Nitesh Kumar couldn’t travel due to visa issues and Paralympic silver medallist Daniel Bethell claimed the gold. Umesh Vikram Kumar and Manoj Sarkar claimed the silver medal and the bronze medal in the category.
Key Indian medallists at British & Irish Para Badminton 2025
Gold Medal: Nithya Sre (Women’s singles SH 6), Thulasimathi Murugesan (Women’s singles SU5), and 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)
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