Mandaviya Hails Debutants Naveen & Surya's Para Games Bronze
Synopsis
Debutants Naveen Sivakumar and Surya Kant Yadav clinched bronze in Badminton Men's Doubles SL3-SU5 at the Asian Para Games 2026. Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya hailed the first-timers' podium achievement under the government's #Cheer4Bharat campaign.
Key Takeaways
Naveen Sivakumar and Surya Kant Yadav won the Bronze Medal in Badminton Men's Doubles SL3-SU5 at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
Both athletes were making their Asian Para Games debut , making the podium finish particularly notable.
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya publicly congratulated the pair on 22 October 2026 .
The SL3-SU5 category combines players with different lower-limb impairment classifications in a mixed doubles format.
India's para-badminton participation has grown steadily since 2010 , with the Asian Para Games serving as a key qualifying and development platform.
Two first-timers walked onto the biggest para-sports stage in Asia and walked off with a medal. Union Labour and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday, 22 October 2026, congratulated debutants Naveen Sivakumar and Surya Kant Yadav for clinching the Bronze Medal in Badminton Men's Doubles SL3-SU5 at the Asian Para Games 2026.
Debutants deliver on the grandest regional stage
The SL3-SU5 Men's Doubles category brings together players with lower-limb impairments across two functional classifications, making mixed-class partnership and court chemistry crucial. For Naveen Sivakumar and Surya Kant Yadav, both competing at the Asian Para Games for the first time, converting their debut appearance into a podium finish is a significant achievement in a fiercely contested discipline.
Minister Mandaviya posted his congratulations under the hashtags #Cheer4Bharat and #AsianParaGames2026, the government's rallying call for Indian para athletes throughout the Games. 'Heartiest congratulations to debutants Naveen Sivakumar and Surya Kant Yadav on clinching the Bronze Medal,' he wrote.
India's growing para-badminton footprint
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event for Asian athletes with disabilities, serving as a key competitive bridge between the continental circuit and the Paralympic stage. India's involvement in para disciplines has expanded steadily since 2010, with badminton emerging as one of the country's more productive medal events at both the Asian and global level.
A bronze on debut signals that India's para-badminton pipeline is producing athletes ready to compete — not merely participate — at the continental level. The result will be watched closely by selectors as preparation for future Paralympic qualification cycles begins to take shape.
Point of View
Not just experience. For Minister Mandaviya, who oversees both labour welfare and sports policy, visible podium moments at events like the Asian Para Games reinforce the government's broader narrative around inclusive sports development. The result will likely add momentum to calls for deeper institutional support for para-badminton, a discipline that has quietly emerged as one of India's more reliable medal events. As the next Paralympic cycle approaches, performances like this sharpen the case for sustained investment in athlete identification and classification-specific coaching.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Naveen Sivakumar and Surya Kant Yadav?
Naveen Sivakumar and Surya Kant Yadav are Indian para-badminton players who won bronze in the Men's Doubles SL3-SU5 event at the Asian Para Games 2026, competing at the Games for the first time.
What is the SL3-SU5 category in para badminton?
SL3-SU5 is a mixed-classification Men's Doubles category in para badminton that combines players with different degrees of lower-limb impairment, specifically SL3 (more severe) and SU5 (less severe) classifications.
What is the Asian Para Games?
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event for Asian athletes with physical, visual, and intellectual disabilities, held separately from the Asian Games and serving as a major continental para-sports platform.
What did Mansukh Mandaviya say about the bronze medal?
Minister Mansukh Mandaviya offered 'heartiest congratulations' to the pair on clinching the bronze, highlighting their status as debutants under the government's #Cheer4Bharat campaign.
How has India performed in para badminton at multi-sport games?
India's para-badminton presence at Asian and global multi-sport events has grown steadily since 2010, with the discipline producing consistent medal prospects at both the Asian Para Games and Paralympic level.
