India’s Triumphant Return: A Landmark Campaign at the China Para Badminton International 2025
The 2025 China Para Badminton International in Beijing turned into a defining chapter in India’s para-badminton journey. A pivotal Grade 2 Level 2 event on the BWF Para Badminton World Circuit, the tournament saw India clinch 12 medals four gold, three silver, and five bronze underscoring the country’s growing authority on the global stage. Beyond the medal count, the event provided moments of resilience, breakthroughs, and depth that showcased India’s strategic rise in para-badminton.
Para-badminton operates under a tiered system distinct from the able-bodied BWF circuit, with classifications ranging from Grade 1 (World Championships and Paralympics) to various levels of Grade 2. The China Para Badminton International is a Grade 2 Level 2 tournament, which holds immense significance. World rankings are calculated from an athlete’s six best results over 52 weeks, and critically, this tally must include at least one Grade 2 Level 2 event.
That regulation elevates Beijing from just another tournament to a compulsory milestone in every top para-shuttler’s season. India’s success, therefore, not only yielded medals but also ensured crucial ranking points and seeding advantages for upcoming championships.
The Medal Tally: 12 Reasons to Celebrate
India’s medal count was spread across categories and disciplines, signaling balanced strength rather than isolated brilliance. The four gold medals came from:
- Pramod Bhagat – Men’s Singles SL3
- Nithya Sre Sivan – Women’s Singles SH6
- Jagadesh Dilli & Naveen Sivakumar – Men’s Doubles SL3-SL4
- Ruthick Ragupathi & Cheah Liek Hou (Malaysia) – Men’s Doubles SU5
The silvers were earned by Pramod Bhagat & Sukant Kadam (Men’s Doubles SL3-SL4), Krishna Nagar (Men’s Singles SH6), and Sukant Kadam (Men’s Singles SL4).
Bronze medals came through consistent semifinal appearances from Prem Kumar Ale & Abu Hubaida (Men’s Doubles WH1-WH2), Umesh Vikram Kumar (Men’s Singles SL3), Umesh & Surya Kant Yadav (Men’s Doubles SL3-SL4), Naveen Sivakumar (Men’s Singles SL4), and the mixed doubles pair of Krishna Nagar & Nithya Sre Sivan (SH6).
The distribution shows a healthy depth India is no longer relying solely on a few stalwarts but producing podium contenders across categories.
Golden Stories of Beijing : Pramod Bhagat’s Comeback
Few narratives were as compelling as Pramod Bhagat’s. Returning after an 18-month suspension for whereabouts failures, Bhagat missed the Paris Paralympics but wasted no time in reminding the world of his class. His SL3 men’s singles gold came after a hard-fought three-setter against Indonesia’s Muh Al Imran (15-21, 21-19, 21-16). This wasn’t just a medal; it was a statement. For Bhagat, the Beijing gold marked both a personal redemption and a reaffirmation of his status as a leader in para-badminton. His determination to train through suspension and return stronger reflects the resilience that has defined his career.
Nithya Sre Sivan’s Breakthrough
If Bhagat represented resilience, Nithya Sre Sivan embodied the future. Still only in her early 20s, Sivan stunned two of the sport’s biggest names defeating Paralympic champion Li Fengmei in the semifinals and silver medalist Lin Shuangbao in the final. Her 21-14, 21-11 victory in the SH6 final was comprehensive and symbolic.
She had won bronze at the Paris Paralympics. In Beijing, she elevated herself from promising talent to genuine world-class contender. Her victories over reigning stars on Chinese soil marked a turning point in her career and positioned her as a central figure in India’s long-term ambitions.
Doubles Depth on Display
The SL3-SL4 men’s doubles final was an all-Indian affair. Jagadesh Dilli and Naveen Sivakumar edged out the experienced pair of Bhagat and Kadam in three thrilling games, proving that India’s doubles program is no longer top-heavy but layered with depth. In SU5, Ruthick Ragupathi, partnering with Malaysian legend Cheah Liek Hou, claimed gold, adding an international dimension to India’s success. The victory highlighted how Indian shuttlers are also learning and excelling through global collaborations.
The silvers told stories of close battles. Krishna Nagar narrowly missed gold in SH6 after losing 17-21 in a decider to Thailand’s Natthapong Meechai. Sukant Kadam, despite falling to France’s Lucas Mazur in the SL4 final, showed consistent form by reaching the summit clash. The bronzes were equally significant, reflecting consistent semifinal appearances across multiple categories.
For upcoming players like Umesh Vikram Kumar and Surya Kant Yadav, these podium finishes were important confidence boosters, while the mixed doubles bronze for Nagar and Sivan hinted at exciting possibilities for India’s future pairings.
India’s Beijing performance builds on momentum from recent successes. At the 2024 Para-Badminton World Championships, India secured 18 medals (3 gold, 4 silver, 11 bronze). At the 2025 Asian Para-Badminton Championships, the tally rose to 27, including four gold. This consistency highlights India’s systematic growth. Unlike a decade ago, when successes were sporadic, today’s results come from a well-structured pipeline of talent development, support systems, and international exposure. The Beijing medal haul reaffirms India’s status as one of the sport’s emerging powerhouses, challenging traditional leaders like China.
The Beijing triumph is not an endpoint but a springboard. The focus now shifts to upcoming events, including the British & Ireland Para Badminton International and the Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, before the 2026 World Championships in Bahrain. For India, the challenge will be consistency delivering not just in major events but also across the Grade 2 circuit to maintain strong world rankings and secure favorable seedings. With veterans like Bhagat proving their resilience and youngsters like Nithya Sre Sivan making world-class breakthroughs, the future looks promising.
The China Para Badminton International 2025 was a showcase of everything India has been building toward: resilience, new talent, and strategic depth. Four golds, three silvers, and five bronzes were not just medals, but milestones on a larger journey. From Bhagat’s comeback to Sivan’s rise, from doubles depth to cross-border partnerships, the narratives from Beijing reflect a program in full bloom. As India prepares for the next phase of international competitions, Beijing will be remembered as the moment when the nation’s para-badminton aspirations truly aligned with global dominance.
