Suhas Yathiraj secured a silver medal in the men’s singles SL4 badminton category at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, but fell short in the final match, which took place on Monday.
Yathiraj, a 41-year-old Indian para-badminton player with an impairment in one of his ankles, faced French opponent Lucas Mazur in a rematch of their Tokyo 2020 final. Unfortunately, Yathiraj lost to Mazur in straight sets, with scores of 21-9 and 21-13, in a match that lasted 34 minutes.
This was in contrast to their much closer battle three years ago at the Tokyo Games, where Yathiraj took Mazur to three games before conceding defeat.
Yathiraj, who holds a degree in computer engineering and serves as an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, competes in the SL4 class.
This category is designed for athletes with less severe impairments than those in the SL3 class, specifically lower limb impairments and minor balance issues when walking or running.
Despite his impairment, Yathiraj has demonstrated incredible resilience and skill, making him one of India’s top para-badminton players.
The silver medal win at Paris 2024 was part of a larger success for India in badminton at the Paralympics, as Nitesh Kumar clinched the gold medal earlier in the day in the SL3 class.
In addition to his silver in Paris, Yathiraj made history by becoming the first Indian para-badminton player to win medals in consecutive Paralympic Games, having also medaled at Tokyo 2020.
His fellow Indian player, Sukant Kadam, was less fortunate in the SL4 category, narrowly missing out on a bronze medal after losing to Indonesia’s Fredy Setiawan 21-17, 21-18 in the bronze medal match.
Suhas Yathiraj’s remarkable achievements serve as an inspiration to athletes across the globe, highlighting both his athletic prowess and his dedication to serving his country in the administrative field.