Paris 2024 Paralympics Para-Badminton: Thulasimathi, Nithya continue win streak; Palak, Manasi suffer narrow losses

India’s female para-shuttlers had a mixed day in the office on the second day (August 30) of the ongoing Paris 2024 Paralympics para-badminton events. Of the four women’s singles matches on Friday, the Indian para-badminton players won two and lost two.

22-year-old Thulasimathi Murugesan continued her strong form in the Paralympic Games, winning her second Group A game in the women’s singles event SU5 against Portugal’s Beatriz Monteiro. Murugesan, a silver medalist in the 2024 Para-Badminton World Championships, completely dominated her opponent to win the match 21-12, 21-8.

After a victory in her first match against Italy’s Rosa Efomo de Marco, this victory puts Murugesan in a comfortable position with two wins out of two in the group stage of the Paris 2024 Paralympics para-badminton event.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old para-badminton prodigy Nithya Sre Sivan continued her wonderful run in her debut Paralympic appearance, defeating 2022 Asian Para Games silver medalist Cai Yi-Lin of Chinese Taipei. After winning her first game comfortably, she managed to hold on despite a strong fight from her more experienced opponent, winning the match by 21-12, 21-19.

This is Nithya’s second win in Group A of the women’s singles SH6 event. The Indian para-shuttler defeated Jayci Simon of the USA in the first match by 21-7, 21-8.

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Palak Kohli and Manasi Joshi suffer narrow defeats in Paris 2024 Paralympics

On the other hand, India’s star para-shuttlers Palak Kohli and Manasi Joshi both suffered narrow losses in the Paris 2024 Paralympics para-badminton events on Friday, losing their respective matches in three sets.

The vastly-experienced Manasi Joshi lost against the 2022 World Championships gold medalist Oksana Kozyna of Ukraine by 21-10, 15-21, 21-23. Despite making short work of her opponent in the first game, Joshi was surprised by Kozyna’s determination and fight, ultimately losing the next two rounds by small margins.

The loss effectively ended Manasi Joshi’s journey at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, as the Indian para-athlete had also lost her opening-day match against Indonesia’s Qonitah Ikhtiar Syakuroh.

Palak Kohli also had a night to forget on Friday, as she lost against Indonesia’s Leani Ratri Oktila by 18-21, 21-5, 21-13. Kohli surprised viewers by winning the first round against Oktila, who had won two gold medals and one silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

But the veteran Indonesian para-shuttler soon recovered from the loss and showed her class as she completely neutralized Kohli in the next two rounds.

However, Kohli still has a chance to go through to the next round of the Paris 2024 Paralympics para-badminton events but must win her match against France’s Milena Surreau to have any hopes of continuing her journey.