In Short
- Manisha Ramadass beat Cathrine Rosengren in straight games
- Ramadass won the match 21-12, 21-8
- Manisha took 25 minutes to defeat Rosengren
India’s Manisha Ramadass won the bronze medal in the women’s singles SU5 category in badminton at the Paralympics 2024. On Monday, September 2, she defeated Denmark’s Cathrine Rosengren 21-12, 21-8 at the LA Chapelle Arena Court 3. SU5 is a classification for athletes with upper limb impairments, which can affect either the playing or non-playing hand.
The 19-year-old took only 25 minutes to ease past Rosengren. Manisha was dominant throughout the match and hardly allowed her Danish opponent to dictate terms. She stormed into the lead in the opening game and closed it out in 13 minutes, after which it took her only 12 minutes to win the second.
With the win, Manisha made history after becoming the first Indian woman to win a Paralympics’ medal in badminton. Manisha had a chance to compete in the gold medal match, but she had lost to Thulasimathi Murugesan in the semis. But the teenager was able to make amends in the bronze medal match where she looked at ease.
Manisha Ramadass’ rise to prominence
Manisha is a highly accomplished Indian para-badminton player from Tamil Nadu. Hailing from Thiruvallur and supported by the sports NGO Olympic Gold Quest, Manisha made her international debut in 2022 and quickly rose to prominence. She became the world number one in the SU5 category back in August 2022. Her impressive career is marked by numerous titles, including her first win at the Spanish Para-Badminton International in 2022. Throughout 2022, she won an impressive 11 gold medals and five bronze medals, showcasing her exceptional skill and dedication to the sport.
Manisha’s achievements have been recognised with prestigious awards. She was named the BWF Female Para-Badminton Player of the Year in 2022, a testament to her outstanding performance during the year. Additionally, she received the Sportswoman of the Year (Parasports) award at the Sportstar Aces Awards. On the back of her impressive performances, she also earned a spot to at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, further solidifying her position as a leading figure in Indian para-badminton.
