Indian shuttlers Murugesan Thulasimathi clinched a silver medal in the women’s singles SU5 category after losing the final against China’s Yang Qiuxia at the ongoing Paris Paralympic Games 2024. Meanwhile, Manisha Ramadass won a bronze in the same event as she defeated Denmark’s Cathrine Rosengren 21-12. , 21-8.
Top-seeded Thulasimathi, who came into the final after defeating compatriot Manisha, lost her gold medal match to the defending champion Qiuxia in straight games 17-21 and 10-21 in 30 minutes. The young debutant Thulasimathi had a four-point lead in the first game. From being 15-11 at one stage in the opening game, the Indian conceded her advantage and took only one point further in the opener.
She even had a one-point lead in the second game but once the defending champion made a comeback, there was hardly any resistance from the debutant.
In the other match, Manisha bounced back from her semifinal loss to Thulasimathi to make light work of the Tokyo Paralympian, defeating her in straight games. She kept the Dane at bay by keeping a handsome lead in her hand almost throughout the match. She clinched the opening game 21-12 in just 13 minutes and then blew away her opponent, taking the second game 21-8 in just 12 minutes.
This is India’s fourth medal of the day after Nitesh Kumar won a gold in the men’s singles SL3 event and Yogesh Kathuniya grabbed a silver in the men’s discus throw F-56 event. India are now in the double digits in the medals tally as the contingent has brought 11 medals so far for the nation.
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 medalist at the Paralympics as she won a bronze in the Women’s 100m – T35 category.
