India’s hopes of a gold medal in mixed doubles para-badminton at the Paris Paralympics 2024 were dashed in the semifinals as the top-ranked duo of Sivarajan Solaimalai and Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan lost a hard-fought match against the American pair of Miles Krajewski and Jayci Simon.
The Indian duo, ranked World No. 2, started strong, claiming the first game 21-17 after a tightly contested battle. The first game was tied at 13-13, but a crucial point won by Sivarajan during a lengthy rally helped India gain the lead and eventually take the game.
However, the Americans fought back valiantly in the second game, turning the tide after trailing early. They gained a narrow 11-8 lead at the mid-game break and ultimately won the game 21-14, forcing a deciding third set.
The third game witnessed a dominant performance from Krajewski, who helped the Americans establish a commanding seven-point lead. The pressure of the semifinal seemed to weigh heavily on the Indians, who struggled to contain their opponents’ momentum. The Americans ultimately clinched the third game 21-13, ending India’s gold medal aspirations in mixed doubles.
Despite the loss, the Indian duo will now compete for the bronze medal, facing the losers of the other semifinal match. The battle for bronze promises to be another intense encounter as India seeks to secure a podium finish at the Paris Paralympics.
