Paris Paralympics 2024: Suhas Yathiraj dominates Ramdani in opener with straight-games victory

Suhas Yathiraj, the reigning World Champion and World No. 1 in the men’s singles SL4 category, kicked off his Paris Paralympics 2024 campaign in style with a commanding victory over Indonesia's Hikmat Ramdani on Thursday.

Yathiraj, who also won a silver medal at the Tokyo Paralympics, showcased his top-seed prowess by defeating Ramdani in straight sets, 21-7, 21-5. The match was a one-sided affair, with Yathiraj dominating from start to finish, demonstrating his superiority on the court.

This decisive win marks a strong start for Yathiraj as he looks to add another Paralympic medal to his impressive collection. His performance today sets a high standard as he progresses through the group stage of the men’s singles SL4 competition.

Meanwhile, Sukant Kadam also registered a win in his opening men’s singles SL4 group match against Malaysia’s Mohammed Amin Burhanuddin. In their Group B clash, the 31-year-old Indian staged a stunning comeback after having lost the opening game to secure a 17-21 21-15 22-20 victory. He came back from a 16-20 deficit in the decider by winning six consecutive points.

Tarun Dhillion, who had severely injured his knee in a football accident, defeated Brazil's Oliveira Rogerio Junior Xavier 21-17, 21-19 in a men's singles SL4 Group D match.