Paris 2024: Suhas Yathiraj denied badminton gold medal by Lucas Mazur at second straight Paralympics

Suhas Yathiraj had to settle for the silver medal once in the men’s singles badminton SL4 class after he went down in the final in straight games at the Paris 2024 Paralympics on Monday.

In a repeat of the Tokyo 2020 final, the 41-year-old Indian para-badminton player, who has an impairment in one of his ankles, lost the final to the French shuttler Lucas Mazur 21-9, 21-13 in 34 minutes.

The Paralympic final three years ago was a much closer affair. Suhas Yathiraj, who studied computer engineering and is an official with the Indian Administrative Service, went down to Lucas Mazur in three games at Tokyo 2020.

Athletes in the SL4 class compete standing with less severe impairment than in the SL3 class. SL4 athletes demonstrate lower limb impairment and minor balance problems walking or running.

It was India’s fourth badminton medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympics - all won on the same day.

Earlier in the day, Nitesh Kumar won the gold medal in the men’s singles SL3 class.

Yathiraj’s Paralympic medal took India’s tally at Paris 2024 to 12. It is only the second time in the Paralympics history that India have crossed the 10-medal mark. India won 19 medals at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics for their best show in the competition.

Yathiraj also became the first Indian badminton player to win medals at both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. His compatriot Sukant Kadam lost to third seed Fredy Setiawan 21-17, 21-18 in the bronze medal match of the same category.