All posts tagged: Manisha Ramadass

Inside Manisha Ramadass’ relentless reign at World No. 1

Inside Manisha Ramadass’ relentless reign at World No. 1

Published by Webster

There’s a moment, almost thrown away in a rapid-fire round, where Manisha Ramadass pauses for a word to describe what it means to sit atop the world rankings for over 180 weeks. “The domination.” It’s not said with swagger. It’s an acknowledgement of something she has come to live with, day after day, session after session, tournament after tournament. In an exclusive conversation with The Bridge, Manisha peeled back the layers of dominance to reveal the doubt, discipline, and drive behind it. The stillness behind the spotlight The last year should have changed everything. A 2024 Summer Paralympics bronze medal. A historic first, India’s first woman to win a Paralympic badminton medal. Titles across continents. Recognition, headlines, expectations. And yet, she shrugs. “After Paris 2024… I don’t know if anything has changed,” she says. “Apart from the medal, people calling me a Paralympic medallist… everything else is the same. Same routine, same training every day.” That’s the contradiction at the heart of her rise. The world sees a breakthrough; she sees continuity. Even that medal, …

All you need to know about the 2026 Para Badminton World Championships

All you need to know about the 2026 Para Badminton World Championships

Published by Webster

The top para shuttlers from across the world are set to compete in the 2026 Para Badminton World Championships, which will be held in Manama, Bahrain, from February 8 to 14. A 41-member Indian contingent will also compete at the global showdown, battling for 22 coveted titles across six different categories – 12 in singles and 10 in doubles. Three-time defending champion Pramod Bhagat will aim to add another gold to his name. However, he will face a tough challenge from reigning Paralympic champion Nitesh Kumar. Krishna Nagar, the men’s SH6 category defending champion, who has been struggling for his best form, will also aim to return to winning ways in Bahrain. In the women’s section, the rising stars Thulasimathi Murugesan and Nithya Sre Sivan will target India’s first women’s singles gold in the last 4 years. Indian Squad of Para Badminton World Championship WH1 Category – Prem Kumar Ale, Shashank Kumar, Poorna Chapara, Prema Vishwas, Pallavi K.M., Nirmala Devi WH2 Category – Haris Srikumar, Manjunatha Chikkaiah, Abu Hubaida, Nurul Khan, Alphia James, Ruchi Trivedi, …

Naveen stuns 2-time Paralympic champion

Naveen stuns 2-time Paralympic champion

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Para shuttler Naveen Sivakumar stunned the two-time Paralympic Champion Lucas Mazur to clinch the title at Indonesia Para Badminton International on Sunday. He took his first-ever win against the Frenchman in their fifth meeting to clinch the MS SL4 title with a fighting three-game, 17-21, 23-21, 21-12, victory. Naveen continued his great year, having won his second singles title here after the Spanish Para Badminton International and also had an Asian bronze medal. Nithya, Manisha and Nitesh bag Individual titles India continued its dominance in other categories as Nithya Sre Sivan (SH6), Manisha Ramadass (SU5), and Nitesh Kumar (SL3) also bagged individual titles. Nithya got the better of Peruan Giuliana Poved in the final, 21-14, 21-13. Meanwhile, Paralympic champion Nitesh Kumar received a walkover against Daniel Bethell in the final. On the other hand, Manisha Ramadass got the better (12-21, 22-20, 21-14) of her fellow compatriot Thulasimathi Murugesan in the final to bag her fourth title of the year. Later in the day, the duo of Sukant Kadam and Pramod Bhagat clinched the men’s doubles …

Olympians advocate for Grassroots Sports at SFA Championships

Olympians advocate for Grassroots Sports at SFA Championships

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The importance of grassroots sports took centre stage as Olympians and experts came together for “From The Ground Up,” a panel discussion held alongside the ongoing SFA (Sports for All) Championships in Bengaluru. Their consensus was clear: encouraging children to play sports, expanding grassroots participation, and embracing the unique lessons sport imparts are vital for individual and national growth. Srihari Nataraj, who swam in the 2024 Olympics, said he took the water early on: “I started swimming at 2. I was one of the kids who never cried and ran into the water,” he said. “I enjoyed the time I spent in the pool and started competing in small tournaments at the age of four. I had some success early and this gave me extra joy and passion. As a person, I was competitive and sporting and this made me choose swimming as a profession.” 16-year-old Tilottama Sen, who won silver in the Asian Shooting Championship last year, recounted her contrasting entry into sport: “Because of Covid, everything was shut down. My dad came up …

India win six gold, Nitesh stunned at Japan Para Badminton International 2024

India win six gold, Nitesh stunned at Japan Para Badminton International 2024

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Indian para-shuttlers dazzled at the recently concluded Japan Para-Badminton International 2024 (October 22-27) in Tokyo, capturing an impressive 24 medals, including six gold, nine silver, and six bronze. Sivarajan Solaimalai won the men’s singles SH6 category gold medal. He defeated Chun Yim Wong of Hong Kong in straight games (21-16, 21-16) in the summit clash. Star para-shuttler Manisha Ramadass, on the other hand, clinched the SU5 women’s singles gold beating Japanese Mamiko Toyoda 21-12, 21-18 in the final. In the SL4 men’s singles category, India achieved a clean sweep with Sukant Kadam winning the title beating his fellow Indian Tarun. Naveen Sivakumar and Surya Kant won the bronze medals. Sukant defeated Tarun 21-12, 21-10 to win the title. Nitesh Kumar stunned In the SL3 men’s singles final, Paris Paralympics gold medallist Nitesh Kumar was stunned by Fujihara Daisuke of Japan in a thrilling three-game contest, 16-21, 21-18, 19-21. Dilli Jagadesh and Umesh Kumar won the bronze medals in this category. In the SU5 men’s singles final, Hardik Makkar lost to Taiyo 5-21, 19-21 as Ruthick …

Tamil Nadu showers cash awards on state’s Paralympics medal-winners

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Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister, M K Stalin felicitated the Paris Paralympics 2024 medalists from the state with cash incentives on Wednesday. There were four Paralympic medalists from Tamil Nadu, three in the sport of Para-badminton, and one from the history-making Para-athletics contingent. INR 2 Crore for Thulasimathi Among these medalists, Para-shuttler Thulasimathi Murugesan who won the silver medal in the women’s singles SU5 category received a cash price of INR 2 crore. Meanwhile, the bronze medalists, Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan (Women’s Singles SH6) and Manisha Ramadass (Women’s Singles SU5) presented with a cash price of INR 1 crore. Mariyappan Thanagavelu, who completed his full set of medals by winning a bronze in the men’s high jump T63 event at the Paris Paralympics, was also awarded by Stalin with a cash prize of INR 1 Crore. This was the third Paralympic medal for Mariyappan after a gold at the Rio Paralympics and a silver in the Tokyo Paralympics. Chief Minister Stalin expressed his delight during the felicitation program and said that he wished for many more …

BAI announces Rs 50 lakh for Paris Paralympics medallists

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Badminton Association of India (BAI), on Tuesday, announced Rs 50 lakh cash prize for the Indian para-shuttlers who won medals at the Paris Paralympics 2024. Indian para-shuttlers won five medals – one gold, two silver, and two bronze – their most in any edition of the Paralympic Games and secured podiums in the women’s events for the first time. Nitesh Kumar clinched the coveted gold in the Men’s Singles SL3 category, while Suhas Yathiraj (Men’s singles SL4) won his second consecutive Paralympics silver medal. Thulasimathi Murugesan, Manisha Ramadass, and Nithya Sre Sivan made history by becoming the first Indian women shuttlers to secure medals at the Paralympics. Thulasimathi bagged the silver in the Women’s Singles SU5 and Manisha the bronze. Meanwhile, Nithya scored a bronze in the SH6 category. The gold medal winner, Nitesh, will receive a purse of Rs 15 lakh. Silver medallists Suhas and Thulasimathi will be awarded Rs 10 lakh each, while bronze medallists Manisha and Nithya will receive Rs 7.5 lakh apiece. Commenting on the historic campaign of India’s para badminton …

BAI Announces Cash Rewards For Paris Paralympic Medal-Winning Shuttlers

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Para shuttler Nitesh Kumar in action© X (Twitter) The Badminton Association of India announced on Tuesday a total reward of Rs 50 lakh for the para shuttlers who secured medals at the Paris Paralympics last month. Indian para shuttlers won five medals, including one gold, two silver and as many bronze, at the Paris Games. Nitesh Kumar, who clinched the coveted gold in the men’s Singles SL3 category, will receive a prize of Rs 15 lakh, while silver medallists Suhas Yathiraj (men’s singles SL4) and Thulasimathi Murugesan (women’s singles SU5) will each be awarded Rs 10 lakh. Bronze-medal winners Manisha Ramadass (women’s singles SU5) and Nithya Sre Sivan (women’s single SH6 category) will each receive Rs 7.5 lakh. Thulasimathi, Manisha and Nithya made history by becoming the first Indian women shuttlers to secure medals at the Paralympics. “Indian para badminton players have been performing consistently on the world stage and the cash rewards are just one way for BAI to recognise their efforts in helping the country win medals at the Paralympics,” BAI …

The list of double podium finishes for India at the Paralympics 2024

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Indian para-athletes had an amazing last 15 days, bagging a total of 29 medals at the Paris Paralympic Games, securing their best-ever finish in the medal table in the 18th position. The 84-member Indian contingent gave plenty of historic moments in these 15 days, being it a first-ever gold medal in para-archery or the first-ever medal in para-judo discipline. India achieved an impressive five double podium finishes at the Paris Paralympics, the most in any edition, marking a historic moment for the Games. Here is the list of double podiums for India at the Paralympics 2024: Dharambir-Pranav Soorma (Gold-silver – Para-athletics) India achieved their first-ever top 2 finish in para-athletics as Dharambir and Pranav Soorma won gold and silver medals in the men’s club throw F51 category, respectively. This was only the second time India had a top-2 finish in the history of the games across sports after Manish Narwal and Singhraj Adhana Tokyo’s gold-silver finish in the mixed 50 m pistol SH1 category. This was also India’s first-ever medal in the club throw event …

8 medals in one day at Paris 2024: From Nitesh to Sumit, how India’s most successful day ever at the Paralympics panned out | Sport-others News

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Before Tokyo Paralympics, the most medals India had won at a single edition was four, which had happened twice. First, at the 1984 edition, then once more four in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Then came the surge in Tokyo three years back. On August 30 in Tokyo alone, India won five medals, back then a record. One of those five was a gold medal for Sumit Antil in men’s javelin. Fast forward three years, on the day Sumit defended his gold medal in Paris, India won a total of eight medals as September 2, 2024 became the country’s single most successful day in the history of Paralympics. Here’s how the historic day panned out: Silver – Yogesh Kathuniya (Athletics) India’s Yogesh Kathuniya clinches silver in discus throw. (Screengrab) Yogesh kickstarted things in Men’s Discus Throw – F56 finishing second to retain his medal from three years back and entering the club of multiple medallists at the Paralympics from India. But, much like Nishad Kumar the previous night in high jump, Nishad he wasn’t a …