Nitesh Kumar and Thulasimathi Assured Para Asian Games Medal

Nitesh Kumar and Thulasimathi Murugesan have assured themselves of a medal in the Asian Para Games mixed doubles badminton competition after completing an unbeaten SL3-SU5 Group B campaign and reaching the semifinals in Nagoya on Monday.

The Indian combination finished at the top of its group following a walkover in its opening match and a straight-games victory over China’s Chen Pengfei and Huang Zixuan. The semifinal place guarantees the pair a medal in the event.

Nitesh and Thulasimathi received a walkover from China’s Yang Jianyuan and Yang Qiuxia in their first Group B fixture. They then sealed first place with a 21-4, 21-18 win over Chen and Huang at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium.

Unbeaten run puts Indian pair into semifinals

The decisive group match lasted 23 minutes, with the Indian pair taking command early by winning the opening game 21-4. Chen Pengfei and Huang Zixuan provided a closer challenge in the second game, but Nitesh and Thulasimathi completed the match in two games, 21-18, to retain their unbeaten record.

That result confirmed the Indian pair as Group B leaders in the SL3-SU5 mixed doubles competition. More importantly, it put them into the semifinals and ensured that their Nagoya campaign will end with a place on the medal list.

The result continues a productive day for Nitesh, who also played in the men’s singles SL3 competition. The Paris Paralympics champion defeated South Korea’s Joo Dongjae 21-13, 21-15 in a Group A match.

Ruthick Ragupathi also recorded a straight-games win for India in the men’s singles SU5 Group C event. He beat Thailand’s Somsiri Pricha 21-12, 21-12.

The mixed doubles event brings together athletes from two para-badminton classifications. SL3 is for players with significant lower-limb impairment who play on half a court, while SU5 is for players with upper-limb impairment. In SL3-SU5 mixed doubles, one athlete from each classification forms the pair.

What the Nagoya results mean

For Nitesh Kumar and Thulasimathi Murugesan, the group-stage objective has been achieved with an unbeaten finish and a confirmed semifinal berth. Their 21-4, 21-18 victory supplied the result needed to top Group B after the opening walkover.

The medal assurance is a significant outcome from the group phase, while the semifinal represents the next stage of the pair’s campaign. Their progression also sits alongside Nitesh’s singles victory and Ruthick Ragupathi’s SU5 singles win, giving India multiple positive badminton results from the day in Nagoya.

Attention now moves to the semifinals for the Indian mixed doubles team, with Nitesh and Thulasimathi already guaranteed to leave the Asian Para Games with a medal.