All posts tagged: Nitesh Kumar

Indian shuttlers clinch 8 bronze medals

Indian shuttlers clinch 8 bronze medals

India had mixed run on the penultimate day of the 2026 BWF Para-Badminton World Championships, winning 6 of the 14 semi-finals in Manama, Bahrain, on Friday. The former Olympic Champion Pramod Bhagat was the star of the day for India, reaching the finals in both men’s singles SL3 and Men’s Doubles SL3-SL4 with Sukant Kadam. Pramod and Sukant will face the fellow Indian pair of Jagadesh Dili and Naveen Sivakumar in the final on Saturday, confirming a double podium finish for India in this category. FIRST đŸ„‡ CONFIRMED AT BWF PARA BADMINTON WORLD C’SHIPS Both Indian teams of Pramod Bhagat/Sukant Kadam and Jagadesh Dilli/Naveen Sivakumar reach the FINAL in the men’s doubles SL3-SL4 categoryđŸ”„#ParaBadminton 🏾 pic.twitter.com/z9RzO49W9l — The Bridge (@the_bridge_in) February 13, 2026 Earlier in the day, the young Indian shuttlers, Naveen Sivakumar (Men’s Singles SL4), Nithya Sre Sivan (Women’s Singles SH6), and Manisha Ramadass (Women’s Singles SU5) also reached the final of their respective events. First-ever wheelchair silver for India The dream run of the Indian duo of Alphia James & Prem Kumar Ale …

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

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

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

ï»żPara 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 …

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya declares 2nd Khelo India Para Games open

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya declares 2nd Khelo India Para Games open

Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya declared the 2nd Khelo India Para Games 2025 open at KD Jadhav Indoor Hall in New Delhi. More than 1300 para-athletes will take part in six sports disciplines in this eight-day-long championship. Five Paralympians – Simran Sharma (athletics), Praveen Kumar (athletics), Nitesh Kumar (badminton), Nitya Sre (badminton), and Preeti Pal (athletics) joined Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Virendra Kumar, Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment, Sri Kento Jini, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister of Arunachal Pradesh and President of the Paralympic Committee of India and former Paralympian Sri Devendra Jhajharia, in a unique torch rally to formally flag off the Khelo India Para Games 2025. Under the visionary leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi ji, India is paving the path for sports excellence! Declared open the 2nd Khelo India Para Games, an inspiring platform for our para-athletes to shine. Their determination & hard work will script new success stories!
 pic.twitter.com/frDh7hLZ36 — Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) …

India’s top Para-Athletes who excelled in 2024

India’s top Para-Athletes who excelled in 2024

Indian para-athletes had a remarkable year in 2024 as they scripted numerous historic moments, winning several world titles in sports like para-badminton and para-athletics. In addition, India achieved its best-ever medal tally at the Paris Paralympic Games 2024, winning an impressive 29 medals: 7 gold, 9 silver, and 13 bronze. There were many remarkable stories this year in para-sports, from Sumit Antil’s title defense at the Paralympic Games to Harvinder Singh winning India’s first-ever archery gold at the Paralympics. Here, TheBridge highlights the top performers of the year 2024 in Para-Sports: Harvinder Singh – Para Archerï»ży The star Indian recurve archer Harvinder Singh etched his name in the history books this year by becoming the first Indian archer to win a gold medal at the Paralympic Games. He clinched the title in the men’s recurve open category at the Paris Paralympics, improving on his bronze-medal performance from the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021. Harvinder had not been in his best form leading up to this year, with only one individual medal since his heroic performance in …

Nitesh Kumar nominated for BWF Men’s Para-Badminton player of the year

Nitesh Kumar nominated for BWF Men’s Para-Badminton player of the year

India’s Paralympic champion Kumar Nitesh has been nominated for the 2024 BWF Annual Awards in the Men’s Para-Badminton Player of the Year category. Nitesh, who won his first gold medal in the SL3 category at the Paris Paralympics, is the sole Indian in this year’s nominations for the prestigious award. He will compete against other top players, including two-time Paralympic gold medalist Cheah Liek Hou (SU5) of Malaysia, Japan’s Daiki Kajiwara (WH2), and China’s Qu Zimo (WH1). Nitesh is a two-time silver and one-time bronze medallist at the World Championships. In addition to Nitesh’s nomination, Olympic champions Viktor Axelsen of Denmark and South Korea’s An Se-Young headlined the BWF Player of the Year nominations. Winners will be decided based on a combination of world ranking points earned during the eligibility period and votes from a five-member expert panel, factoring in performances in top-tier tournaments, including the Paris 2024 Olympics. Nitesh is the only Indian athlete featured in the Player of the Year nominations. Full list of players nominated: Men’s Doubles Player of the Year: China’s …

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

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

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 …

BAI announces Rs 50 lakh for Paris Paralympics medallists

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

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 …

Para shuttler Pranay Seth stranded in Indonesia as BAI fails to process entry

Para shuttler Pranay Seth was stranded in Indonesia after the Badminton Association of India failed to process his entry for the Indonesia Para-Badminton International tournament. Despite receiving assurances from the BAI that his entry had been accepted, Pranay arrived in Indonesia, only to learn a day before the event that he was not registered to compete. A budding para shuttler, Pranay funded this trip personally with many hardships but it is futile now due to the failure of the management at BAI. “I feel helpless as all other athletes have started playing but can’t. I aim to qualify for bigger tournaments but due to such mistakes, all my chances will be greatly impacted as I won’t get ranking points. Also, I was playing singles and doubles but due to this my partner will also suffer. I am expecting immediate help from authorities,” said Pranay. His disappointment was compounded by the significant personal and financial sacrifices made to arrange for his participation in the tournament. The incident comes one week after Paralympic champion Nitesh Kumar and …