Tokyo Paralympics champion Krishna Nagar spearheaded India’s impressive campaign at the Asian Para Games on Saturday, claiming his second consecutive victory in the men’s singles SH6 group stage to book a spot in the quarterfinals. Nagar overcame Indonesia’s Subhan in straight games with a 21-13, 21-15 scoreline to ensure a top-two finish in Group C with a round of group matches still remaining.
The day witnessed a flurry of victories across various impairment categories as established champions and emerging talents alike delivered dominant performances on the court. Paris Paralympics gold medallist Nitesh Kumar cruised past Thailand’s Natthapol Chamnanwet 21-6, 21-7 in the men’s singles SL3 division, while veteran shuttler Pramod Bhagat defeated China’s Xiong Lichuan 21-17, 21-16 in the same category to maintain strong momentum.
Key Highlights
- Krishna Nagar secured a 21-13, 21-15 win over Indonesia’s Subhan to reach the SH6 quarterfinals.
- Nitesh Kumar dominated Thailand’s Natthapol Chamnanwet 21-6, 21-7 in the SL3 division.
- Pramod Bhagat registered a hard-fought 21-17, 21-16 victory against China’s Xiong Lichuan.
- Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan defeated China’s Lin Shuangbao 21-18, 21-13 in women’s singles SH6.
Tournament Progress and Outlook
India’s contingent also flourished in the wheelchair and double categories, highlighting the growing depth of the nation’s para-badminton program. In the men’s singles SL4 event, Naveen Sivakumar outplayed Indonesia’s Hikmat Ramdani 21-12, 21-10, and Surya Kant Yadav defeated Japan’s Koki Ogawa 21-6, 21-19. Meanwhile, in the women’s events, Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan proved too strong for China’s Lin Shuangbao, winning 21-18, 21-13 in the SH6 group stage, and Thulasimathi Murugesan swept past Brunei’s Zainab Mohamed 21-2, 21-2 in the SU5 category. Despite a few setbacks in select women’s singles and mixed doubles matches against formidable international opponents, the overarching Indian squad continues to showcase remarkable prowess and podium aspirations as the tournament progresses toward the knockout stages.
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