Indian para badminton player Suhas Yathiraj won the silver medal in Paris Paralympics 2024 on Monday. He lost in straight games in the final of the men’s singles SL4 event. Despite winning silver, Suhas has accomplished a big feat. He has become the first Indian badminton player to win two consecutive medals in the Paralympic Games. He also captured silver in Tokyo Paralympics. Suhas is a 2007 batch IAS officer.
Suhas was defeated by Lucas Mazur of France 9-21, 13-21 in the final of the SL4 event. He looked breathless in both the sets. In Tokyo too, Suhas’s hopes of winning gold were dashed by Lucas. He missed settling accounts in Paris. 41-year-old Suhas had made it to the final by defeating Sukant 21-17, 21-12. Let us tell you that those athletes who have weakness in their lower limbs play in SL4 category. Suhas has a deformity in his left ankle since birth.
India’s 12th medal has come in Paris Paralympics. India has won a total of four medals in Para Badminton in Paris. Before Suhas, Nitish Kumar won gold, Tulsimati Murugesan won silver while Manisha Ramdas won bronze. Manisha is the first Indian female badminton player to win a medal in the Paralympics.
Computer engineer turned IAS officer Suhas never let his ankle weakness hinder his passion for badminton. Suhas, who served as the District Magistrate of Gautam Buddha Nagar during the Covid-19 pandemic, was also the DM of Prayagraj. Presently posted as Secretary and Director General of Youth Welfare and Provincial Rakshak Dal under the Government of Uttar Pradesh, Suhas’s journey from administration to badminton court is a testimony to his determination.
