Nithya Sre Sivan clinched the bronze medal for India in the newly-introduced women’s singles badminton SH6 class at the Paris 2024 Paralympics on Monday.
This achievement added to India’s impressive tally, marking the country’s eighth medal of the day and fifth in badminton, all of which were secured on the same day.
Notably, India had won four medals in badminton during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, demonstrating the nation’s growing prowess in the sport on the global stage.
At just 19 years old, Nithya entered the competition as the top seed, showing her potential from the outset.
She delivered a commanding performance in the bronze medal match, defeating Indonesia’s Rina Marlina in straight sets. The Indian shuttler sealed the victory with a scoreline of 21-14, 21-6 in a quick 23-minute match.
Her dominance on the court was evident throughout, as she controlled the game and left little room for her opponent to mount a challenge.
Nithya reached the bronze medal match after a hard-fought battle in the semi-finals, where she faced Lin Shuangbao of the People’s Republic of China. Despite a valiant effort, Nithya lost in straight sets, 21-13, 21-19, which sent her to the bronze medal match.
Nevertheless, her resilience and determination were on full display as she bounced back to secure the podium finish.
Athletes in the SH6 class, which stands for ‘standing’ and ‘short stature,’ compete with specific physical conditions.
Despite the challenges posed by her short stature, Nithya’s skill and agility made her a formidable competitor in the tournament.
Earlier in the day, Indian badminton player Nitesh Kumar won gold in the men’s singles SL3 class.
Suhas Yathiraj claimed silver in the men’s singles SL4 event, while Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manisha Ramadass added silver and bronze, respectively, in the women’s singles SU5 class. Nithya’s bronze further elevated India’s medal count at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, bringing the total to 15.
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