GB Nagar DM Suhas wins silver, makes UP proud
Suhas Yathiraj, the district magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar, won a silver medal in badminton at the Tokyo Paralympics on Sunday.
The 38-year-old Yathiraj not only became the first civil servant of India to make a podium finish at the Paralympics, where badminton made its debut, but also the second individual from Uttar Pradesh after long jumper Praveen Kumar of Jewar, who also finished with a silver medal a few days ago. Now, both are entitled to get Rs 4 crore each as per the state government’s policy.
All eyes were on Yathiraj on Sunday as soon as he stepped on to the court against World No 1 Lucas Mazur of France in the men’s singles SL4 category. From the very start, the 62-minute duel witnessed a ding-dong battle with Yathiraj winning the first game before Mazur levelling the match by winning the second game.
The two produced their best and at times it was tough to pick out the winner, especially when the scoreboard read 1-all. But in the decider, Lucas continued his brilliant run to win the gold medal. Yathiraj should be incredibly proud of his effort as he became the fourth Indian para-shuttler to win a medal at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
Yathiraj, who remained committed to his responsibilities, including the handling of tough situations during the pandemicinduced lockdown, has been an inspiration to many Indians, playing badminton in school to becoming an IAS officer and now a Paralympics medallist.
Yathiraj, who hails from Karnataka, became an IAS officer in Uttar Pradesh in 2007, has impairment in one of his ankles. His parents always stood by him and made sure that the “disability” never became in an obstacle in his life and supported him to play in inter-school tournaments.
But things changed dramatically when being the district magistrate of Azamgarh, he was inspired to take up the sport professionally by the para-badminton coach Gaurav Khanna in 2016. This completely changed his life.
In the same year, Yathiraj made his mark on the international stage, becoming the first civil servant to win a gold m at the Asian Para-badmin Championship in Beijing, owing to his success, he given the award of ‘Best P Sportsperson’ by the Uttar desh government on World ability Day.
“Very emotional (mome have never been so happy so disappointed in my life a same time. Most happy bec of the silver medal but most appointed because I missed gold medal by a whisker, said in a video message po by the Paralympic Committ India. “But destiny gives w deserve and probably I dese silver medal, so I am happy that at least.”
As expected, congratula messages started pouring in him. “A fantastic confluenc service and sports! @dmg gar Suhas Yathiraj has capt the imagination of our en nation, thanks to his ex tional sporting performanc
Congratulations to him winning the silver medal in minton. Best wishes to him his future endeavours,” Modi tweeted.
Chief minister Yogi Adi nath too congratulated Yath on his success, whereas the Association tweeted: “You our heart!!! Entire natio proud of you, Suhas L Y, # DM NOIDA @dmgbnagar winning #Silver in SL4 #Pa adminton #Cheer4su #cheers4india #Praise4par