India’s para badminton stars bagged a rich haul of 21 medals at the British & Irish Para Badminton International 2025 held at Cardiff, Wales from July 22-26.

Competing at the Level 1 event, India’s medal tally includes 3 gold, 5 silver and 13 bronze.

Nithya Sre, a bronze medalist at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, dazzled in the women’s singles SH6 final with a thrilling three-game victory over Peru’s Giuliana Poveda. Nithya sealed the match 21-11, 21-23, 21-11, demonstrating remarkable composure after dropping the second game. The 20-year-olds athleticism and mental strength were on full display as she claimed India’s first gold of the tournament.

In the women’s singles SU5 final, Paris 2024 Paralympics silver medalist Thulasimathi Murugesan triumphed in an all-Indian clash against Manisha Ramadass. After losing the first game 18-21, Murugesan fought back brilliantly to win the next two games 21-17, 21-16, clinching a well deserved gold. Her powerful rallies and match control proved too strong for her younger compatriot, reaffirming her place among the elite in para badminton.

The third gold for India came from the formidable men’s doubles SL3-SL4 pair of Jagdish Dilli and Naveen Sivakumar. The duo remained undefeated, winning all four of their matches en route to the top of the podium. Their chemistry, court coverage, and relentless attack gave them a clean sweep in the group-stage-based competition, securing gold with flair and dominance.

India’s success extended further with five silver medals, won by Sukant Kadam (Men’s Singles SL4), Manisha Ramadass (Women’s Singles SU5), Sanjana Kumari (Women’s Doubles SL3), Umesh Vikram Kumar (Men’s Singles SL3), and the men’s doubles SL3-SL4 pairing of Surya Kant Yadav and Umesh Vikram Kumar – all of whom delivered spirited performances to reach the finals.

World No. 2 Sukant Kadam put up a solid fight in the men’s singles SL4 final but fell short against reigning Paralympic champion Lucas Mazur of France. Umesh Vikram Kumar also stood out with a double podium finish, taking silver in the men’s singles SL3 and partnering with Surya Kant Yadav for another silver in the SL3-SL4 men’s doubles.

Among the 13 bronze medals, standout performances included Krishna Nagar in the men’s singles SH6 category – the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold medallist continuing to add to his rich legacy. He also joined Nithya Sre in the SH6 mixed doubles to earn another bronze. Naveen Sivakumar (Men’s Singles SL4), Manoj Sarkar (Men’s Singles SL3), and Neeraj (Women’s Singles SL3) were among the individual bronze medallists.

In doubles, combinations such as Deep Ranjan Bisoyee and Manoj Sarkar, Hardik Makkar and Ruthick Ragupathi, Prem Ale and Alphia James, Surya Kant Yadav and Neeraj, and Chirag Baretha and Mandeep Kaur also contributed to India’s tally with podium finishes.

One of the most unfortunate setbacks for India came in the men’s singles SL3 category, where reigning Paralympic champion Nitesh Kumar was unable to participate due to visa complications. In his absence, the title was clinched by Paralympic silver medallist Daniel Bethell of Great Britain, denying India a strong title opportunity in a category it has traditionally dominated.