Paris 2024 Paralympics Para-Badminton: Solaimalai-Nithya win in mixed doubles, Yathiraj-Palak, Nitesh-Thulasimathi suffer narrow losses
Team India had a day to forget at the Paris 2024 Paralympics para-badminton mixed doubles events, as only one Indian para-shuttler duo managed to emerge victorious from their bouts on day two of the quadrennial games.
The duo of Sivarajan Solaimalai and Nithya Sre Sivan defeated Natthapong Meechai and Chai Saeyang of Thailand in straight games (21-7, 21-17) in the Group B game of the mixed doubles SL3-SU5 event.
The Indian pair took a massive lead in the first game, which stood at 14 at one point, and set the tempo for the entire match on Friday, August 30. The second game was a bit tougher, with the Thai para-shuttlers showing a hint of fight. However, the players from Tamil Nadu dug in to emerge victorious in the match.
This was the first victory in the Paris 2024 Paralympics para-badminton mixed doubles events for the duo of Solaimalai and Sre Sivan, with the pair losing their first match against Miles Krajewski and Jayci Simon of the USA by 21-23, 11-21.
Solaimalai and Sre Sivan will face Krajewski and Simon in the semi-finals of the SL3-SU5 mixed doubles events on September 1. The bout is scheduled to start at 10 pm IST.
Yathiraj-Palak and Nitesh-Thulasimathi suffer narrow losses in Paris 2024 Paralympics para-badminton mixed doubles matches
Other than Sivarajan Solaimalai and Nithya Sre Sivan, the Indian para-shuttlers did not have much luck on day two of the Paris 2024 Paralympics para-badminton events.
The duo of Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj and Palak Kohli lost to the Indonesian pair of Hikmat Ramadani and Leani Ratri Oktila in the group stage of the mixed doubles SL3-SU5 event. The Indian pair lost the match in straight games (11-21, 17-21).
This was the third straight defeat for Yathiraj and Kohli, which means that they have no chance of progressing through to the next stage of the Paris 2024 Paralympics para-badminton mixed doubles events.
On the other hand, Nitesh Kumar and Thulasimathi Murugesan failed to win against France’s Lucas Mazur and Faustine Noel, losing the bout by 22-24, 19-21.
Nitesh and Thulasimathi have won only one of their Group A matches and are eliminated from the ongoing Paris 2024 Paralympics.