India’s para badminton team delivered a dominant performance at the 2026 World Abilitysport Youth Games in Turkey, bringing home an impressive total of 27 medals.

The tournament, held from June 18 to 22, saw outstanding performances from Indian athletes Haris Mythili Srikumar (Wheelchair WH2) and Potnuru Prem Chand (Short Stature SH6), both of whom secured three gold medals each. Other notable highlights included Portugal’s Beatriz Monteiro claiming a double victory in the SU5 category, while Turkey’s Eylul Yilmaz won the women’s singles WH2 title on home soil.

The inclusion of Para badminton in the Under-21 multi-sport event reflects the Badminton World Federation’s ongoing efforts to create more competitive opportunities for rising young talents worldwide. Following its introduction at the ISF Gymnasiade in 2024 and 2025, this initiative addresses the growing need for junior international tournaments and aims to strengthen the player development pathway.

India emerged victorious across multiple categories, with gold medals secured by Manisha Patel, Akash Ranjan Mund, Shivangi Pandey, Aaryan Sharma, and Gopesh Jhalani in their respective singles events. The nation also triumphed in various doubles and mixed doubles events alongside players like Harshit Rajput, Samaira Kanwat, Kaushika Devda, Bibhasindhu Barik, and Nitin Yadav, solidifying its position as a powerhouse in junior para badminton.

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