Nitesh Kumar bags three golds; Manisha Ramadass defeats Paralympic champion to claim maiden Asian title
In a landmark outing at the 2025 Asian Para-Badminton Championships held in Thailand, Indian para-shuttlers delivered a sensational performance, bagging a record-breaking 27 medals, including four golds, 10 silvers, and 13 bronze, their best showing in the history of the tournament.
Nitesh Kumar’s Golden Hat-trick
The undisputed star of the campaign was Nitesh Kumar, who completed a rare golden treble:
He clinched gold in men’s singles SL3, defeating Indonesia’s Muh Imran in a commanding straight-game win.
Partnering Sukant Kadam, he won the men’s doubles SL3-SL4, edging out fellow Indians Naveen Sivakumar and Jagadish Dilli.
Nitesh also teamed up with Thulasimathi Murugesan to triumph in the mixed doubles SL3-SU5, besting Indian duo Ruthick Raghupathi and Manasi Joshi in the final.
This clean sweep marked one of the finest all-round individual performances by an Indian para-athlete on the continental stage.
Manisha Ramadass Breaks Through
In what was arguably the most dramatic moment of the championships, 20-year-old Manisha Ramadass stunned two-time Paralympic gold medallist Yang Qiuxia of China in the women’s singles SU5 final. After five previous losses to the Chinese veteran, Manisha finally broke the jinx with a courageous 21-18, 17-21, 21-15 win.
Her performance not only earned her first Asian title, but also underlined her rapid rise on the international stage.
Strong Show Across Categories
India’s other medals came across all major classifications:
Silver medals were earned by top names like Mandeep Kaur, Palak Kohli, Nithya Sre Sivan, and several doubles pairs, reaffirming India’s growing strength in para-badminton.
The bronze tally of 13 was highlighted by consistent performances in both singles and doubles events, reflecting the country’s bench strength.
A Historic Campaign
This campaign not only marked a medal surge but also demonstrated India’s growing dominance in Asian para-badminton. With emerging stars and established champions shining alike, the 2025 edition could very well be the stepping stone for a dominant showing at the Paris Paralympics later this year.
Discussion about this post