India’s Thulasimathi Murugesan secured a silver medal after a hard-fought battle against China’s Xia Qui Yang, losing 17-21, 10-21 in the women’s singles SU5 finals at the Paris Paralympics on Monday.
Meanwhile, Manisha Ramadass triumphed over Denmark’s Cathrine Rosengren with a decisive 21-12, 21-8 victory, earning her the bronze medal.
Thulasimathi had an impressive run leading up to the final, remaining unbeaten in the group stage with straight-set wins over Italy’s Efomo Marco and Portugal’s Beatriz Monteiro. In the semifinals, she faced fellow Indian Manisha in an all-Indian clash, once again showcasing her dominance with a 21-15, 21-7 win.
Manisha Ramdass has achieved her first-ever medal at the Paralympics, marking a significant milestone in her athletic career. Over the past four years, she has consistently impressed by winning numerous medals at major competitions. At the recent Asian Para Games, she secured three bronze medals, adding to her growing list of accomplishments. In 2022, at the World Championships in Tokyo, she captured both a gold and a bronze medal. This year, she continued to shine at the World Championships in Pattaya, where she earned one silver and two bronze medals.
Earlier this year, Thulasimathi, alongside her doubles partner Manasi Joshi, also claimed silver at the BWF World Para Badminton Championships in Thailand.