India has secured an early medal in para-badminton at the 2026 Asian Para Games after Manasi Joshi and Thulasimathi Murugesan booked their place in the women’s doubles SL3-SU5 semifinals with a straight-games victory over China.
The Indian duo defeated Yuemei Liu and Tongtong Li 21-10, 21-17 on October 17 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Their second consecutive group-stage victory confirmed a top-two finish in Group A with one match still to play. Reaching the semifinals guarantees the pair at least a bronze medal because both losing semifinalists receive bronze.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: India assured a medal in women’s doubles para-badminton at the Asian Para Games 2026.
Location: Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Authority/Organisation: Asian Para Games organisers and the Indian para-badminton contingent.
Action Taken: Manasi Joshi and Thulasimathi Murugesan defeated China 21-10, 21-17 to enter the semifinals; Krishna Nagar defeated Indonesia’s Subhan 21-13, 21-15 to reach the men’s singles SH6 quarterfinals.
Impact: India has secured a women’s doubles para-badminton podium finish, while Nagar remains in contention for a further knockout-stage result.
The result gives India a significant early boost at the continental para-sports competition. It also marks another consecutive Asian Para Games edition in which the country has secured a medal in this women’s doubles category. Joshi and Thulasimathi had won silver at the 2023 Hangzhou edition.
Manasi Joshi and Thulasimathi deliver under pressure
The Indian pair controlled their match against China, winning the opening game 21-10 before closing out the contest 21-17 in the second. The straight-games victory avoided the need for a deciding game and secured their place in the knockout stage.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
Confirmed medal for India: Joshi and Thulasimathi have guaranteed at least bronze by reaching the semifinals. Consecutive podium success: The pair also won silver in the same event at the 2023 Asian Para Games. Krishna Nagar progresses: The Tokyo Paralympics champion has reached the SH6 quarterfinals. Depth across classifications: Other Indian shuttlers have also recorded wins in their respective events. Visibility for para-sports: The results bring attention to athletes competing in classifications that receive less routine coverage than mainstream badminton.
Their achievement is particularly important because the semifinal qualification itself guarantees a medal, regardless of the result of their remaining group match or their semifinal.
The SL3-SU5 women’s doubles event combines athletes from two standing badminton sport classes. SL3 generally covers players with lower-limb impairments affecting movement around the court, while SU5 includes players with upper-limb impairments. The combined format requires athletes to adapt positioning, movement and shot selection to the demands of the partnership.
Joshi and Thulasimathi entered the competition with experience from the previous Asian Para Games, where they won silver. Their latest result ensures that India will again reach the podium in the event, while leaving the colour of the medal to be decided by their subsequent matches.
Krishna Nagar advances to the quarterfinals
India also received a strong result in the men’s singles SH6 event, where Tokyo Paralympics gold medallist Krishna Nagar secured a quarterfinal place.
Nagar defeated Indonesia’s Subhan 21-13, 21-15 to record his second successive group-stage win. The victory confirmed a top-two finish in Group C, allowing him to progress to the knockout stage with one group match still remaining.
SH6 is a para-badminton classification for athletes of short stature. The category features its own competitive demands, including rapid movement, court coverage and the ability to create attacking angles.
Nagar’s qualification adds another positive development to India’s para-badminton campaign. However, reaching the quarterfinals is a separate achievement from winning a medal, and his final position will depend on the knockout matches that follow.
More Indian shuttlers record important wins
India’s campaign has also received contributions from experienced para-badminton players in other classifications.
Paris Paralympics champion Nitesh Kumar defeated Thailand’s Natthapol Chamnanwet 21-6, 21-7 in men’s singles SL3. Tokyo Paralympics gold medallist Pramod Bhagat also advanced strongly, beating China’s Xiong Lichuan 21-17, 21-16 in the same category.
These results indicate that India’s campaign is progressing across several para-badminton classifications rather than depending on a single athlete or event.
At the same time, the competition has produced defeats for Indian players in other matches. A balanced assessment of the campaign therefore needs to distinguish confirmed medal positions, knockout qualification and group-stage results still awaiting resolution.
Why this medal matters for India
The result offers India an early podium achievement at the 2026 Asian Para Games and reinforces the importance of para-badminton within the country's wider para-sports programme.
India has developed internationally competitive players across multiple para-badminton classifications, including athletes who have won medals at the Paralympic Games and previous Asian Para Games. The latest result provides another opportunity to highlight their performances beyond the mainstream sports calendar.
A confirmed medal can also draw attention to the training, coaching, equipment and competitive opportunities needed by para-athletes. Sustained progress depends on more than individual victories: athletes need regular high-level competition, accessible facilities, specialist support and pathways that allow new talent to develop.
The immediate achievement belongs to Joshi and Thulasimathi, who have secured a podium finish through their results on court. Their remaining matches will determine whether India’s medal is silver or gold.
