Mandaviya Hails Nitesh Kumar, Thulasimathi's Silver at Asian Para Games 2026
Synopsis
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated para-badminton players Nitesh Kumar and Thulasimathi Murugesan on winning silver in the Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5 event at the Asian Para Games 2026, celebrating the achievement under the #Cheer4Bharat banner.
Key Takeaways
Nitesh Kumar and Thulasimathi Murugesan won silver in Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5 at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya personally congratulated the duo on October 23, 2026 .
Nitesh Kumar competes in the SL3 category (lower-limb impairment, half-court); Thulasimathi Murugesan in the SU5 category (upper-limb impairment).
Para badminton is among India's most consistent medal-producing disciplines at major multi-sport para events.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports oversees para athlete support frameworks, giving ministerial recognition direct policy weight.
Two Indian para-badminton players stepped off the court at the Asian Para Games 2026 with silver medals around their necks — and a congratulatory post from the top of Indian sports administration to mark the moment. Union Labour and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya took to X on Friday, October 23, 2026, to celebrate the mixed doubles achievement of Nitesh Kumar and Thulasimathi Murugesan in the SL3-SU5 category.
Mandaviya wrote: 'Congratulations to Nitesh Kumar and Thulasimathi Murugesan on securing a brilliant Silver in the Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5 at the #AsianParaGames2026! #Cheer4Bharat' — a direct acknowledgement from the ministry that oversees both para athlete welfare and multi-sport event participation.
Who are Nitesh Kumar and Thulasimathi Murugesan?
Nitesh Kumar competes in the SL3 classification, a category for players with lower-limb impairment who compete on a half-court. He has built a strong international profile in para-badminton, earning medals at top-tier tournaments. Thulasimathi Murugesan is one of India's prominent names in the SU5 category, which caters to players with upper-limb impairment. Together, the pairing represents the depth India has developed across para-badminton classifications.Para Badminton's Place in India's Multi-Sport Ambitions
India's presence at multi-sport para events has grown steadily, and badminton has been one of the country's most reliable medal sources at both the Asian Para Games and Paralympic level. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports — under Mandaviya's charge — directly oversees support frameworks for para athletes, from training grants to competition exposure, making ministerial recognition more than symbolic: it signals the pathway these athletes navigated through an official support structure. A silver at the Asian Para Games in mixed doubles is a team result forged through months of combined training, and for a cross-classification pairing like SL3-SU5, coordination carries its own technical demands. That both players brought their individual excellence into a shared format adds another layer to the achievement. India's para sports community will now watch whether the duo, and other Indian para-badminton players at the same event, can add further hardware before the Games conclude — every medal feeding into a broader national conversation about funding, recognition, and infrastructure for athletes who have historically competed in the shadows of their able-bodied counterparts. Their silver is not just a podium finish. It is a data point in an argument India keeps winning.Point of View
Framing para medals alongside Olympic ones in the national conversation. India's growing depth across para-badminton classifications — evidenced by cross-category pairings like SL3-SU5 in mixed doubles — reflects a structural investment in athlete pipelines rather than individual outliers. Each ministerial post reinforces a policy signal that para sport performance is tracked, valued, and tied to funding conversations. The question that follows every silver is whether it translates into upgraded training infrastructure and financial continuity for the athletes after the Games end.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Nitesh Kumar and Thulasimathi Murugesan?
Nitesh Kumar is an Indian para-badminton player in the SL3 category (lower-limb impairment, half-court competition), while Thulasimathi Murugesan competes in the SU5 category for players with upper-limb impairment. Both are established international para-badminton players representing India.
What is the SL3-SU5 category in para badminton?
SL3-SU5 is a mixed doubles para-badminton classification pairing an SL3 player (lower-limb impairment, half-court) with an SU5 player (upper-limb impairment, full-court). It is a recognised event at major para multi-sport competitions including the Asian Para Games.
What did India win at the Asian Para Games 2026 in badminton?
Nitesh Kumar and Thulasimathi Murugesan won a silver medal in the Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5 event at the Asian Para Games 2026, as confirmed by Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya's official post on October 23, 2026.
What is Mansukh Mandaviya's role in Indian sports?
Mansukh Mandaviya serves as Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports (along with Labour and Employment). His ministry oversees para athlete support, funding, and India's participation in international multi-sport events such as the Asian Para Games.
How has India performed in para badminton at multi-sport events?
Para badminton has historically been one of India's most productive disciplines at the Asian Para Games and Paralympic level, with Indian players winning medals across multiple classifications. The sport benefits from ministry-level support through the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
