Paris Paralympics 2024: Nitesh, Sukant enter men's singles SL3 and SL4 semis

Indian shuttlers Nitesh Kumar and Sukant Kadam qualified for the semifinals of mens singles SL3 and SL4 categories respectively after recording straightgame wins in their last group matches in the Paris Paralympics on SaturdayNitesh who had won a silver medal in the Asian Para Games last year in China beat Mongkhon Bunsun of Thailand 2113 2114 to notch his third successive win and top group ABunsun also qualified for the semifinals as the secondplace finisher from group AIn SL3 class which is meant for players with severe lower limb disability competing on halfwidth court the top two finishers from each of the two groups qualify for the semifinalsIn the group A Tokyo Paralympics bronze medallist Manoj Sarkar who has already bowed out of the tournament beat Yang Jianyuan of China 211 2111 Manoj had earlier lost to Bunsun and NiteshIn mens singles SL4 class meant for athletes with lower limb impairments and minor balance issues in walking or running Sukant joined compatriot Suhas Yathiraj in the semifinals after beating Thailands Teamarrom Siripong 2112 2112 to top group BThis was his second consecutive win in the threeplayer group Sukant had won a bronze in the Asian Para Games in China last yearIts my debut tournament I am so happy to be qualified for the semifinals I was well prepared for todays game The first match was much tougher than this And against him I have played plenty of times and I was very confident So I wanted to go one point at a time and then I played really well said Sukant after the matchThe drift and the atmosphere of the hall is very different I am happy that I was able to adapt well this time he addedIn mens SL4 competition only the toppers from each of the four groups qualify for the semifinals Meanwhile Mandeep Kaur entered the quarterfinals of the womens singles SL 3 category after defeating Australias Vinot Celine Aurelie in the womens singles SL 3 event on SaturdayAlso Read Take a bow SheetalMandeep regrouped to win her last group B match 2123 2110 2117 against her Australian rival She had lost her opening match to Nigerias Bolaji MariamThe Indian finished second in the threeplayer group B to book a quarterfinal spot Mariam topped the group to enter the semifinalsThe toppers of group A and C directly advanced to the semifinals The top two teams in group B as well as secondplace finishers in group A and C compete in the quarterfinal for the two remaining semifinal spotsIn Fridays late night matches Suhas Yathiraj and Palak Kohli lost their opening mixed doubles SL3 contest 1121 1721 to top seeded Indonesian pair of Hikmat Ramdani and Leani Ratri OktilaIn another group A SL3 mixed doubles contest involving Indians Nitesh Kumar and Thulasimathi Murugesan lost 2224 1921 to the French team of Faustine Noel and Lucas MazurThe only win in the mixed doubles came through Nithya Sivan Sumathy and Sivarajan Solaimalai who defeated Thailands Natthapong Meechai and Chai Saeyang 217 2117 in group BLater on Saturday Nitesh Kumar Krishna Nagar Manoj Sukant Sivarajan Solaimalai and Tarun will compete in different categories of mens singlesIn womens singles Manisha Ramdass and Nithya Sivan Sumathy will present their challengeWith agency inputs