Indian mixed doubles Para-Shuttlers Thulasimathi Murugesan and Nitesh Kumar. Photo: X | Thulasimathi MurugesanIndian mixed doubles Para-Shuttlers Thulasimathi Murugesan and Nitesh Kumar. Photo: X | Thulasimathi Murugesan
India's Nitesh Kumar and Thulasimathi Murugesan had little difficulty overcoming country-mates Suhas Yathiraj and Palak Kohli in the opening group stage match of badminton mixed doubles (SL3-SU5) at the Paralympic Games in Paris on Thursday. (Full Coverage)wagi8
The Nitesh-Thulasimathi duo won the Group A contest 21-14, 21-17 in 31 minutes.
Nitesh, 29, who hails from Karnal district in Haryana, and young Thulasimathi, a veterinary science student from Tamil Nadu who had won the mixed bronze at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, encountered little challenge in the first game and at one stage they were leading by seven points.
Unable to counter the pair's net play and deep tosses, Suhas and Palak quickly found themselves trailing, losing the game in just 14 minutes.
Paris Paralympics 2024: Who Are The Top Medal Hopes For India? The second game too went on similar lines with Palak clearly not able to match the prowess of her senior partner on court and giving away points.
SL3 players have moderate impairment on one side of the body, affecting either both legs or the absence of limbswagi8, while SU5 players have significant impairments in their upper limbs.