India produced a remarkable performance at the 2026 World Abilitysport Youth Games in Mersin, Türkiye, finishing with an impressive haul of 27 medals in para-badminton, including 15 gold, nine silver and three bronze medals.
The medals came across multiple para-badminton categories, including wheelchair events (WH1 and WH2), standing lower-limb impairment categories (SL3 and SL4), the upper-limb impairment category (SU5) and the short-stature category (SH6), underlining India’s growing dominance across all classifications.
Among the standout performers was Haris Mythili Srikumar, who returned home with three gold medals. He won the men’s singles WH2 title before joining hands with Nitin Yadav to clinch the men’s doubles WH1-WH2 gold. Haris then completed a golden hat-trick by winning the mixed doubles WH1-WH2 title.
Akash Ranjan Mund also enjoyed a memorable tournament, capturing the men’s singles SL3 gold and partnering Koshika Devda to win the mixed doubles SL3-SU5 title.
Aryan Sharma emerged victorious in the men’s singles SL4 category, while Shivangi Pandey claimed the women’s singles SL4 gold. Tulika Jadhav added another gold in the women’s singles SL3 event, and Gopesh Jhalani topped the podium in the men’s singles SU5 category.
India continued its dominance in the SH6 category, where Prem Chand Potnuru won the men’s singles title before pairing with Harshit Rajput to secure the men’s doubles gold. Manisha Patel also enjoyed a brilliant campaign, winning the women’s singles SH6 title and the mixed doubles SH6 crown alongside Prem.
Additional gold medals came through Bibhasindhu and Aryan Sharma in the men’s doubles SL3-SU5 event, while Samaira Kanwat claimed the women’s doubles SL3-SU5 title.
India’s silver medal winners included Nitin Yadav in the men’s singles and mixed doubles WH2 events, Bibhasindhu in the men’s singles SL3 category, Samaira Kanwat in the women’s singles SL3 event and Koshika Devda in the women’s singles SU5 category. The Indian contingent also secured several silver medals in doubles events, reflecting the squad’s impressive depth.
The three bronze medals were won by Bibhasindhu and Nazliin in the mixed doubles SL3-SU5 category, Tulika Jadhav and Gopesh Jhalani in another mixed doubles SL3-SU5 event, and Harshit Rajput in the men’s singles SH6 category.
India’s outstanding tally of 27 medals highlighted the country’s growing strength in para-badminton and showcased the immense potential of its young athletes on the global stage. The performance also reaffirmed India’s position as one of the leading nations in international para-badminton.
