Indian Para-Shuttler Suhas Yathiraj Reflects on Paralympic Silver

Indian para-shuttler Suhas Yathiraj, 41, feels mixed emotions after securing his second Paralympic silver. Despite aiming for gold, he recognizes the significance of representing his country. His journey from world no. 39 to top-12 reflects passion and perseverance. Tokyo 2020 marked a watershed moment for Indian Olympic and Paralympic sports.

Indian para-shuttler Suhas Yathiraj is in a whirlwind of emotions following his second consecutive Paralympic silver medal. While there is pride in his achievement, the disappointment of missing out on gold weighs heavily on him.

Despite entering the Games as the world no. 1 and a favorite for gold in the men's singles SL4 category, the 41-year-old fell to France's Lucas Mazur in straight games. Suhas admitted that the expectations were immense, given his top ranking and past wins.

Reflecting on his journey, Suhas noted the challenges of competing at such a high level, especially with the pressure of maintaining his status. Despite his defeat, he finds solace in the honor of representing his country and making significant strides from his early days as world no. 39. Suhas called Tokyo 2020 a 'watershed moment' for Indian para sports and remains optimistic about the future growth and support for Paralympics in India.

(With inputs from agencies.)