India’s para shuttler Manasi Joshi faced a tough exit from the 2024 Paris Paralympics. She lost in the women’s singles SL3 Group A match after Ukraine’s Oksana Kozyna made a remarkable comeback at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena. Similar to her first match in Group A, Manasi took the lead in the opening set but lost the next two, resulting in her defeat at the games.
A strong start, but a tough comeback
Manasi began the match confidently, taking control of the opening set and securing a solid 21-10 victory, putting her 1-0 up. However, Oksana made a strong comeback in the second set, delivering a powerful performance that pushed Manasi onto the defensive. Oksana leveled the score at 1-1 with a 15-21 win. In the deciding game, Manasi appeared balanced to clinch the win but Oksana had other plans. Overcoming a three-point deficit towards the end, Oksana snatched victory with a 21-23 win, ensuring Manasi’s exit from the event.
Series of challenging matches
On Thursday, Manasi, a 2019 World Championships gold medalist, faced Indonesia’s Qontiah Ikhitar Syakuroh. Although Manasi won the first game, Syakuroh fought back in the next two sets, defeating Manasi with scores of 21-16, 13-21, 18-21 in the first round. In another match on Thursday, Mandeep faced Nigeria’s Mariam Eniola Bolaji in Group B. Mandeep lost to the Nigerian player in two straight games, 8-21, 14-21.
India’s growing presence in the Paralympics
This year, India has sent its largest-ever contingent to the Paralympics, with 84 athletes competing in 12 sports. This marks a significant growth in India’s para-sports ecosystem. India’s participation in the Paris 2024 Paralympics not only highlights a rise in athlete numbers but also boosts medal hopes as the country aims to surpass its achievements from Tokyo. During the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, the Indian badminton team won four medals, including two golds, one silver, and one bronze. Tokyo 2020 was India’s most successful Paralympic Games, with the nation winning a total of 19 medals, including five golds, eight silvers, and six bronzes.
