Star shuttler Suhas Yathiraj of India made history by winning a silver medal in the SL4 event of the ongoing Paris Paralympics 2024. Suhas is the first shuttler from India to win two medals at the same Paralympic games. In the Tokyo Paralympics, he had also taken home a silver medal.  

What is SL4? 

Standards for classifying players with disabilities for para-badminton events are mainly based on the extent of disability and the degree to which they can move. Players with physical impairments that limit their movements at the lower limbs are categorized as standing lower or ‘SL’.  

These athletes use standing roulette and participate in competitions while standing, facing some difficulties such as weak or numb legs or limited flexibility. In this context, a score of “4” in SL4 refers to a specific level of a functional limitation that is significant and exists but is not complete. Through putting together athletes with similar abilities in the physical field, this classification helps in overcoming disparity. 

Suhas Yathiraj: A Journey of Perseverance and Excellence 

Suhas was born in Karnataka on 7 February 1983. Despite having a severe leg disability due to a congenital ankle defect, he has succeeded in his field of work. After completing his graduation from the National Institute of Technology in the computer engineering stream, he pursued his career to be an IAS officer, selecting the Uttar Pradesh cadre of the Indian Administrative Service in the 2007 batch. Even though he started late, he quickly rose to prominence in the para-badminton world. 

The Recent Match

Suhas’s competitor was Lucas Mazur, who somehow had more advantage due to the overwhelming support from the home crowd since he was the defending champion. Suhas began poorly and was even lagging for the initial part of the match, and he scored the first point only after the arrival at the score of 0-7 due to the service break. 

He was much compromised in the first match as Mazur was leading 11/2 in the first half. During the last moments of the game, he attempted to calm down, look for a certain pace, and often enter the attack, but Mazur would always be a step ahead and too fast for him. Mazur played very well and did not give Suhas an opportunity to retaliate. 

In the second game, Suhas spoke more confidently and authoritatively. He tried to avert his eyes on such distractions, outfoxed his opponents in playing more approaches, and risked more shots. Despite Mazur playing much better at this match, Suhas stood to win a silver with good performance and calculated moves. 

He was brought up in Dudda, which is near the Hassan district and completed completed his initial schooling at Dudda only. Then he joined DVS Independent College in Shivamogga. His activities at school, both academic and sporting-related, also demonstrated both muscular and cerebral power. 

A silver medal in the Paralympics is one of the significant accomplishments in Suhas’s career, not only proving his skills but also juggling his capability of handling his working hours and passion for sports. It remains a good source of motivation and emphasizes the importance of hard work and dedication to overcoming barriers in life and in the workplace.