Suhas Yathiraj and Nitesh Kumar Shine in Paralympics, Manasi Joshi and Manoj Sarkar Face Setbacks

Tokyo silver medallist Suhas Yathiraj and Nitesh Kumar advanced to the men's singles SL4 and SL3 semifinals at the Paralympics. Despite significant victories, Manasi Joshi and Manoj Sarkar both faced setbacks, effectively ending their chances of reaching the semifinals. The SL classes categorize athletes based on their limb impairments.

Tokyo silver medallist Suhas Yathiraj and Nitesh Kumar have made it to the semifinals in the men's singles SL4 and SL3 categories at the Paralympics. Yathiraj triumphed over Korea's Shin Kyung Hwan with a 26-24, 21-14 victory, while Kumar dominated China's Yang Jianyuan 21-5, 21-11, topping their groups.

Nitesh, a 29-year-old IIT Mandi graduate, who suffered permanent leg damage in 2009, will next face Thailand's Bunsun Mongkhon. However, it was a disappointing day for Manasi Joshi and Manoj Sarkar, as both suffered their second consecutive defeats, ending their semifinal prospects.

Joshi narrowly lost to Ukraine's Oksana Kozyna 21-10, 15-21, 21-23, and Sarkar fell to Thailand's Bunsun 19-21, 8-21. The SL classes categorize athletes based on their limb impairments, with more severe disabilities requiring play on a half-width court.

(With inputs from agencies.)