Nitesh Kumar and Naveen Sivakumar Win Para-Badminton Gold

Nitesh Kumar and Naveen Sivakumar won men’s singles gold medals in para-badminton at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan, on 23 October 2026. Kumar defeated Pramod Bhagat 21–18, 21–16 in the SL3 final, while Sivakumar beat Indonesia’s Fredy Setiawan 21–9, 21–17 in the SL4 final.

Para-badminton classifications

Para-badminton events are classified according to athletes’ impairments and their effect on movement and play. The six sport classes are WH1 and WH2 for wheelchair players, SL3 and SL4 for standing players with lower-limb impairments, SU5 for players with upper-limb impairments, and SH6 for players of short stature. In SL3, players compete on half of a standard badminton court because of lower-limb impairment. SL4 players have less severe lower-limb impairment than SL3 players and compete on a full court. SU5 and SH6 are separate classes and are not subdivisions of the SL classes.

Asian Para Games

The Asian Para Games is a multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities from across Asia. It is organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee and is held in the same host city as the Asian Games. Para-badminton became a Paralympic sport at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, which took place in 2021. The 2026 Asian Para Games are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. India also won silver medals in women’s singles SU5 through Thulasimathi Murugesan and women’s singles SH6 through Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan on 23 October.

India’s medal tally

As of 23 October 2026, India had won 98 medals: 24 gold, 32 silver and 42 bronze. India stood fourth in the overall medal standings. Bhagat, a two-time Asian Para Games gold medallist from the 2018 and 2022 editions, won silver after losing the SL3 final to Kumar.

Important Facts for Exams

• Badminton uses a shuttlecock and is played as singles or doubles.
• The Badminton World Federation governs international badminton.
• The Paralympic Games are the international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities.
• The Asian Paralympic Committee organises the Asian Para Games.

SL3 and SL4 are standing classes in para-badminton, while WH1 and WH2 are wheelchair classes. India’s medal tally on 23 October 2026 included 24 gold medals.