Nadda hails India's triple podium in SL4 badminton at Asian Para Games
Synopsis
TOPS-supported Naveen Sivakumar won gold in Men's Singles SL4 at the Asian Para Games 2026 on his debut, while Suhas L. Yathiraj and Abhijeet Sakhuja claimed bronze in the same category, completing a rare all-India podium sweep that Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda publicly celebrated.
Key Takeaways
Naveen Sivakumar clinched gold in Men's Singles SL4 at the Asian Para Games 2026 on his debut appearance.
Yathiraj and Abhijeet Sakhuja both secured bronze in the same SL4 category, producing a full Indian podium sweep.
Naveen competes under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) , launched in 2014 to back elite athletes for global and continental competitions.
Union Health Minister J.
Nadda offered personal congratulations to all three athletes on October 23, 2026 .
Para badminton remains one of India's most consistent medal-contributing disciplines at successive Asian Para Games editions.
A golden debut, a historic triple podium, and India's para badminton story just got a new chapter. Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda on Friday, October 23, 2026 congratulated TOPS athlete Naveen Sivakumar on clinching gold in Men's Singles SL4 at the Asian Para Games 2026 — a first international gold for the young para shuttler — while also saluting Suhas L. Yathiraj and Abhijeet Sakhuja on picking up bronze to complete a memorable all-India podium sweep in the category.
Naveen's gold and what it means for TOPS para athletes
Naveen Sivakumar competes under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), the government's flagship programme launched in 2014 to back elite athletes gunning for continental and global podiums. His gold on debut is precisely the return on investment TOPS is designed to produce — financial support, structured training, and exposure to top-level competition converted into metal on the biggest para stage in Asia.
Nadda described it as 'a golden debut to remember,' and the phrase carries weight. Reaching the top step at a first Asian Para Games appearance places Naveen among the select group of Indian para shuttlers who have announced themselves at the continental level with an immediate championship result.
Suhas Yathiraj and Abhijeet Sakhuja complete the sweep
Suhas L. Yathiraj, one of India's most recognised para badminton figures with a strong prior international medal record, added a bronze in SL4 singles alongside Abhijeet Sakhuja — giving India two bronzes to accompany Naveen's gold in the same category. Three Indian athletes on the same podium in a single classification is a rare collective result, underscoring the depth India has quietly built in the SL4 discipline.
Badminton has consistently been among India's most reliable medal-producing disciplines at successive Asian Para Games editions, and the 2026 edition appears to be reinforcing that pattern with force.
India's para sports ecosystem bearing fruit
The triple podium arrives against the backdrop of a steadily maturing para sports infrastructure. TOPS was extended to cover para athletes specifically to widen the medal pipeline at continental events — a policy call that is visibly paying dividends. Ministerial acknowledgment of individual para athletes by name, rather than blanket institutional congratulations, also signals a deliberate shift in how the government publicly positions para sport as a priority.
With the full medal tally from the Asian Para Games 2026 still accumulating, India's badminton contingent has already handed the country one of its most complete single-event results of the tournament.
Point of View
Reproducible results — not one-off performances. The fact that three athletes from the same classification all reached the podium suggests a depth of domestic competition within the programme, not just individual brilliance. Ministerial posts naming each athlete individually are also part of a broader strategy to elevate para sport's public visibility, building a narrative ahead of future Paralympic cycles. The bigger question is whether this SL4 result signals a comparable surge across other para disciplines in the full Games tally.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Naveen Sivakumar in para badminton?
Naveen Sivakumar is a TOPS-supported Indian para badminton player who competes in the SL4 classification. He won gold in Men's Singles SL4 at the Asian Para Games 2026 on his debut at the event.
What is the SL4 classification in para badminton?
SL4 is a standing lower-limb impairment classification in para badminton, used to group athletes with similar functional ability levels for fair competition.
What is the TOPS scheme for athletes?
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) was launched in 2014 by the Indian government to provide financial support, equipment, coaching, and international exposure to elite athletes aiming for medals at Olympics, Paralympics, and major continental events.
What did Suhas L. Yathiraj win at Asian Para Games 2026?
Suhas L. Yathiraj won bronze in Men's Singles SL4 at the Asian Para Games 2026, joining Naveen Sivakumar's gold and Abhijeet Sakhuja's bronze to complete a triple podium finish for India.
When are the Asian Para Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Para Games 2026 is the quadrennial multi-sport event for para athletes across Asia. India's SL4 badminton results, including Naveen Sivakumar's gold, were recorded on or before October 23, 2026.
