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Suhas Yathiraj Becomes World No. 1 Para Shuttler
Indian para-badminton player Suhas Yathiraj has ascended to the top position in the BWF Para Badminton World Rankings, surpassing French icon Lucas Mazur. The 40-year-old Arjuna Award recipient clinched the silver medal in the SL-4 category at the Tokyo Paralympics, where he faced Mazur in the final but narrowly missed the gold. Despite this, his exceptional skill and dedication have propelled him to the pinnacle of the rankings.
With a total of 60,527 points, Suhas now comfortably leads ahead of Mazur, who has accumulated 58,953 points. Suhas shared his excitement on social media platform 'X', saying, "Finally World Number 1. Happy to share that, In the latest Badminton World Federation Para Badminton rankings announced today for Men's Singles category, I have got world number 1 ranking, first time in life, replacing previously long-standing world number 1 Lucas Mazur of France. Thanks a lot for your blessings and wishes."
An IAS officer from Uttar Pradesh, Suhas secured the World Championship crown by defeating Indonesia's Fredy Setiawan in February this year. In para-badminton, the SL-4 classification is designated for athletes with minor impairments affecting movement on one side of their body, both lower limbs, or a slight absence of a single limb. These players compete standing on a full-width court with good court movement and a full range of shots.
Suhas has written his destiny with his own hands, overcoming significant challenges since birth. Born in Shigoma, Karnataka, he was interested in sports from a young age and received strong support from his family despite societal taunts due to his disability. He completed his engineering in Computer Science from the National Institute of Technology in Surat before deciding to join the civil service after his father's death in 2005. Suhas's journey from playing badminton as a hobby to achieving professional success began in 2016 when he started participating in international matches.
Since February 2023, Suhas has been serving as Secretary and Director General of Youth Welfare and Provincial Guard Force of the Uttar Pradesh Government. His remarkable journey continues to inspire many as he now stands as the world's top para-badminton player in his category.
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