World No.1 Kumar Nitesh swept the SL3 podium at Spanish Para Badminton International 2025 II, winning men’s singles, men’s doubles (SL3-SL4) and mixed doubles (SL3-SU5).
Partnering Manisha Ramadass, Nitesh took the first crown in mixed doubles defeating the Swedish-Norwegian pairing of Rickard Nilsson/Helle Sofie Sagøy 21-9 21-15. The Paris 2024 Paralympic champion carried the momentum into the men’s singles match, winning 21-19 21-19 over Japanese Daisuke Fujihara in two consistent games.
With men’s doubles partner Tarun Tarun, Nitesh brought home the third title after overcoming compatriots Jagadesh Dilli/Naveen Sivakumar 21-14 23-25 22-20 in a hard-fought match.
Ilaria Olgiati was equally dominant in WH2 events, capturing the titles in women’s singles as well as WH1-WH2 women’s and mixed doubles. The Swiss star’s success in the doubles events were achieved alongside partners of different nationalities – Hu Guang Chiou (Chinese Taipei) and Konstantin Afinogenov (Israel).
Meanwhile, Mariam Eniola Bolaji became the first African shuttler to ace back-to-back editions of the tournament following a 21-15 21-15 victory over Ukraine’s 2022 SL3 world champion Oksana Kozyna. The Nigerian did not drop a single game en route to glory.
The tournament saw Japan and India secure majority of the gold medals.
Heavy favourites Daiki Kajiwara (WH2 men’s singles) and Sarina Satomi (WH1 women’s singles) led Japan’s four-gold haul while India’s other triumphs came in SL4 men’s singles (Sukant Kadam), SL3-SU5 women’s doubles (Palak Kohli with Turk Tugce Celik) and SH6 women’s singles (Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan) and mixed doubles (Krishna Nagar/Sumathy Sivan).
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