Mandaviya hails Thulasimathi's Silver at Asian Para Games 2026
Synopsis
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated para-badminton star Thulasimathi Murugesan on winning the Silver Medal in Women's Singles SU5 at the Asian Para Games 2026, spotlighting India's growing strength in para-badminton on the continental stage.
Key Takeaways
Thulasimathi Murugesan won the Silver Medal in Women's Singles SU5 at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
The SU5 category covers athletes with impairment affecting one arm, making it a technically demanding discipline.
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya publicly congratulated Thulasimathi on X on October 23, 2026 .
The achievement reinforces India's consistent track record in para-badminton at Asian-level competitions.
Ministerial recognition under the #Cheer4Bharat campaign is part of a broader push to mainstream para-sport in India's sports narrative.
A silver medal that travelled from a badminton court in the Para Games arena all the way to the desk of a Union Minister — Union Labour and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday, October 23, 2026, congratulated Indian para-badminton player Thulasimathi Murugesan for clinching the Silver Medal in Women's Singles SU5 at the Asian Para Games 2026.
Thulasimathi's SU5 silver and what it means for India
The SU5 category in para-badminton is contested by athletes with an impairment affecting one arm — a classification that demands exceptional footwork, endurance, and shot-making with a single functioning upper limb. Competing at this level on an Asian stage places Thulasimathi Murugesan among the continent's elite para-shuttlers. A silver medal at the Asian Para Games is a significant marker on the qualification and ranking pathway that feeds into global para-badminton circuits, including the Paralympic Games.
India's growing force in para-badminton
Para-badminton has emerged as one of India's most productive para-sports disciplines over the past decade, with Indian athletes consistently finishing on podiums at Asian and world-level competitions. Thulasimathi's performance adds another chapter to that story — proof that investment in grassroots para-athletics is producing results at the continental stage. The #Cheer4Bharat campaign championed by the Sports Ministry has been aimed squarely at building this culture of recognition around para-athletes who have historically played in relative obscurity.
Minister Mandaviya's public post on X signals the government's intent to keep para-sport visible in mainstream sporting conversation — a sharp contrast from eras when para-medals were acknowledged quietly, if at all. Every ministerial congratulation carries a policy undertone: these athletes exist, they win, and the state is watching.
Point of View
A gap that has long gone unaddressed. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has increasingly used social media as a recognition platform for para-athletes, which carries downstream policy significance: public acknowledgment drives sponsorship interest, media coverage, and grassroots participation. Thulasimathi's silver at the Asian Para Games fits into a pattern where Indian para-badminton has steadily climbed the global rankings, and ministerial amplification helps sustain that momentum ahead of the next Paralympic cycle.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Thulasimathi Murugesan?
Thulasimathi Murugesan is an Indian para-badminton player who competes in the SU5 category, which is for athletes with an impairment affecting one arm. She is one of India's leading para-shuttlers at the Asian level.
What is the SU5 category in para-badminton?
The SU5 classification in para-badminton is for players who have an impairment in one arm or hand, requiring them to play with only one functional upper limb. It is a recognised category in international para-badminton competitions including the Asian Para Games.
When did India win the silver medal at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced and congratulated Thulasimathi Murugesan on her silver medal on October 23, 2026 , confirming the result from the Asian Para Games 2026 .
What is the Asian Para Games?
The Asian Para Games is a major multi-sport event for athletes with physical, visual, and intellectual impairments from across Asia. It is held every four years and serves as a key qualifier and ranking event on the road to the Paralympic Games.
What is the #Cheer4Bharat campaign?
'#Cheer4Bharat' is a hashtag campaign promoted by India's Sports Ministry to rally public support for Indian athletes — both able-bodied and para — competing in international tournaments. It is used by ministry officials including Minister Mandaviya to amplify athlete achievements on social media.
