India Bags 19 Medals at Fazza Para Badminton International in Dubai

India’s para-badminton contingent delivered a commendable performance at the 6th Fazza Para Badminton International tournament in Dubai, finishing with an impressive tally of 19 medals — one gold, four silver, and 14 bronze.

The lone gold came in the men’s doubles SH6 category, where the Indian duo of Sivarajan Solaimalai and Sudarsan Saravanakumar Muthusamy were awarded a walkover in the finals. Their top-seeded opponents, Hong Kong’s Chu Man Kai and Wong Chun Yim, withdrew from the match, handing the title to the Indian pair.

“It’s a bittersweet win, but we’re proud to have reached this stage,” said Sudarsan, expressing both relief and joy at claiming the gold on the tournament’s final day.

Among the standout performances was experienced shuttler Umesh Vikram Kumar, who secured two silver medals — one in the SL3 singles (Standing Lower) category and another in men’s doubles. Despite narrowly missing out on gold, Kumar’s consistency across categories highlighted his importance in India’s para-badminton setup.

In the SU5 (Standing Upper) men’s doubles final, the Indian duo of Hardik Makkar and Ruthick Ragupathi fought valiantly against Malaysia’s top-seeded pair Cheah Like Hou and Muhammad Fareez Anuar. Though they ended up with silver, their spirited display won them admiration from coaches and fans alike.

Tokyo Paralympic champion Krishna Nagar, one of the more recognized faces in Indian para sports, added a bronze to the medal tally. He bowed out in the semifinals after a tough loss to Brazil’s Vitor Tavares. Still, Nagar’s performance carried emotional weight.

“This medal is for the brave men and women in uniform who are working hard, day and night, to protect our country. Their courage motivates me to keep fighting on court,” said Nagar, dedicating his win to India’s defence forces.

India’s total of 19 medals at the Dubai event underlines the country’s growing stature in global para-badminton circles. With young talent emerging and veterans continuing to perform, the performance in Dubai sets an optimistic tone as Indian shuttlers prepare for future international competitions, including the upcoming World Championships and the Paris 2024 Paralympics.