Asian Para Games: Kancheepuram's Thulasimathi Murugesan wins doubles gold, ends with 3 medals in a day (1 gold, 2 silver)
23-10-2026 · English
Topics: Sports, Governance, Health & Awards · 23 October 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)
News
At the 5th Asian Para Games in Aichi–Nagoya, Japan (18–24 Oct 2026), Kancheepuram's Thulasimathi Murugesan won three medals on 23 Oct: (1) women's doubles SL3–SU5 gold with Manasi Joshi, beating world champions Yang Qiuxia–Xiao Zuxian of China 21-16, 21-13 (upgrading their previous-edition silver); (2) mixed doubles SL3–SU5 silver with Nitesh Kumar (lost to Indonesia's Leani Ratri Oktila–Hikmat Ramdani); (3) women's singles SU5 silver, losing the final to China's Yang. (The headline's 'gold' came in doubles; singles was silver.) That day India stood 4th with 106 medals (28 gold, 34 silver, 44 bronze).
Key facts
| Gold | Women's doubles SL3–SU5 – Thulasimathi / Manasi Joshi |
| Silver (2) | Mixed doubles SL3–SU5 (with Nitesh Kumar); women's singles SU5 |
| Other Indian badminton medals (23 Oct) | Nitesh Kumar – SL4 gold (Pramod Bhagat silver); Naveen Sivakumar – SL3 gold; Nithya Sre Sivan – SH6 silver |
| India (23 Oct) | 106 medals (28-34-44), 4th |
| Previous edition | Hangzhou 2022 (Oct 2023): India 111 medals (29-31-51), 5th |
Background
- Para-badminton classes: SL3/SL4 – lower-limb impairment (standing); SU5 – upper-limb impairment; SH6 – short stature; WH1/WH2 – wheelchair. In SL3–SU5 doubles, players of these classes pair up.
- Paralympic history: India's first Paralympic gold – Murlikant Petkar, Heidelberg (Germany) 1972, men's 50 m freestyle swimming (world record). To spot para talent at home, the first 'Khelo India Para Games' were held in New Delhi on 10–17 Dec 2023 with 7 sports.
- Kancheepuram: capital of the Pallavas; the 'city of a thousand temples'. The Kailasanathar temple built by Rajasimha (Narasimhavarman II) is a fine example of the structural stone temple. Kanchipuram silk sarees have a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
Tamil Nadu link: Thulasimathi is from Kancheepuram (Paris 2024 Paralympic SU5 silver, Arjuna Award 2024). Nithya Sre Sivan, who won women's singles SH6 silver at these Games, was born in Karur and raised in Hosur – Paris 2024 Paralympic SH6 bronze, Arjuna Award 2024.
Source: IANS, Free Press Journal, India.com, The Bridge (23 Oct 2026); SSC CGL 2025 question (Petkar); GKToday (Khelo India Para 2023); Wikipedia (Nithya Sre Sivan, Kailasanathar Temple)
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