Gadkari hails India's Para Badminton gold at Asian Para Games 2026
Synopsis
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari celebrated Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manasi Girishchandra Joshi's gold medal in Women's Doubles SL3-SU5 at the Asian Para Games 2026, calling the World No. 1 pair's performance a 'golden display of dominance' for India.
Key Takeaways
Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manasi Girishchandra Joshi won Gold in Women's Doubles SL3-SU5 at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari congratulated the pair on 23 October 2026 , describing their win as a 'golden display of dominance.' The duo holds the World No.
1 ranking in their doubles category, according to Gadkari's post.
The Asian Para Games is Asia's premier multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities, held since 2010 .
The victory adds to India's growing continental para-sports medal haul ahead of the 2028 Paralympics cycle .
Two Indian para-badminton players just stood on the top of Asia — and the country is taking notice. On Friday, 23 October 2026, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari posted his congratulations to Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manasi Girishchandra Joshi after the pair claimed the Gold medal in Women's Doubles SL3-SU5 at the Asian Para Games 2026, hailing them as a 'World No. 1 duo' whose performance brought 'immense pride to India.'
India's World No. 1 duo claims continental gold
Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manasi Girishchandra Joshi compete in the SL3-SU5 classification — a mixed-impairment doubles category in para-badminton that demands distinct physical adaptations and exceptional court coordination. Gadkari described their victory as 'a golden display of dominance,' underlining that the win reflected 'exceptional skill, teamwork and determination.' The post confirmed the pair's World No. 1 ranking in the discipline.
Para sports in India's national spotlight
The Asian Para Games, held periodically since 2010, is Asia's premier multi-sport competition for athletes with disabilities. Over the past decade, India has steadily elevated its para-sports profile, with government figures regularly amplifying victories in badminton, athletics, and shooting to reinforce a national narrative of inclusive excellence. Gadkari's public congratulations — using the campaign hashtag #Cheer4Bharat — fits squarely into that pattern, giving para-athletes the same prime-time recognition long reserved for able-bodied counterparts.
For Manasi Joshi, a former software engineer who lost her left leg in a road accident and became one of India's most recognisable para-badminton advocates, a continental gold alongside Thulasimathi adds yet another chapter to a career already defined by defying expectation. Their doubles pairing — bridging two different impairment classifications — is itself a testament to the depth of India's para-badminton programme.
With the 2028 Paralympics cycle building momentum, every continental title the pair collects sharpens both their global ranking and India's broader medal ambitions on the world stage. A gold at the Asian Para Games is not the finish line — it is the loudest possible qualifier.
Point of View
And each continental gold reinforces the case for sustained government funding and infrastructure ahead of Los Angeles 2028. The SL3-SU5 doubles format — bridging two distinct impairment classes — also quietly signals how sophisticated Indian para-sport classification management has become. If the government can convert this visibility into structural investment, the 2028 Paralympics could mark a genuine step-change in India's para-sports medal count.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manasi Joshi?
They are Indian para-badminton players and World No. 1 ranked partners in Women's Doubles SL3-SU5. Manasi Joshi is a former software engineer who lost her left leg in a road accident and became a prominent advocate for para-sports in India.
What is the SL3-SU5 category in para-badminton?
SL3-SU5 is a mixed-impairment women's doubles category in para-badminton. SL3 denotes a standing player with lower-limb impairment, while SU5 refers to a standing player with an upper-limb impairment, making it a cross-classification pairing.
What are the Asian Para Games?
The Asian Para Games are a multi-sport competition for athletes with disabilities across Asia, held periodically since 2010. They are considered one of the most prestigious continental para-sport events in the region.
Why did Nitin Gadkari congratulate the badminton players?
As a senior Union Minister and prominent BJP leader, Gadkari regularly uses his social media platform to celebrate Indian athletes' achievements, particularly in para-sports, as part of a broader government push to mainstream para-athlete recognition.
What is India's para-badminton ranking globally?
According to Gadkari's post, Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manasi Joshi are ranked World No. 1 in Women's Doubles SL3-SU5, making them the top-ranked pair in their category globally.
