Indian para shuttler Sukant Kadam spoke exclusively to Outlook Sports. Photo: Special Arrangement Indian para shuttler Sukant Kadam spoke exclusively to Outlook Sports. Photo: Special Arrangement First he narrowly missed out on making the Tokyo cutkingbet, and then narrowly missed the podium in Paris. Sukant Kadam's Paralympics journey has been fruitless so far, but instead of despair, he has embraced hope. (More Sports News)
The 31-year-old mechanical engineer-turned-para shuttler looks back at his Paris campaign constructively, seeking improvements for the 2025 season and beyond. "While Paris 2024 was a challenging journey, there were certainly lessons to take away. In hindsight, I feel that better preparation for handling pressure in critical moments could have made a difference," he tells Outlook in an exclusive interaction.
Kadam lost his bronze medal match 17-21, 18-21 to third seed Indonesian Fredy Setiawan in the SL4 category (for athletes with standing/low mobility impairments). And months later, he has a better grasp now of what went wrong.
"Perhaps focusing more on mental conditioning alongside physical preparation would have helped convert close matches into wins. Additionally, analyzing opponents’ strategies in even greater depth might have provided an edge during crucial matches."
Skipper Harmanpreet Singh (13th, 32nd minutes) netted a brace en route his sixth goal in the Games so far and his 26th of the year, while Abhishek gave India the lead in the 12th minute.
lucky cola slotThe year 2024 was not all gloom for the badminton player, however, as he bagged a silver medal at the Indonesia Para Badminton International in September. He lost again to Setiawan, this time in the final, but Kadam reviews the results in a positive manner.
Indian para shuttler Sukant Kadam. Photo: Special Arrangement Indian para shuttler Sukant Kadam. Photo: Special ArrangementHe breaks it down: "2024 was a roller-coaster year for me. While missing out on a medal at Paris was heartbreaking, it fueled my determination, which was reflected in my silver at the Indonesia tournament. Overall, I see 2024 as a year of growth and resilience. It reminded me that success and setbacks go hand in hand and reinforced my belief in the importance of persistence. The experiences and challenges I faced have laid a strong foundation for 2025."
Kadam is also grateful for the strides para badminton has made, ever since he started pursuing it. "It has grown tremendously. From being relatively unknown to now being recognized at prestigious global platforms like the Paralympics, the sport has come a long way. We now have consistent medal contenders and a more robust talent pool in India."
At the same time, he is acutely aware of the bumps in the road ahead. "There’s still a long way to go in terms of funding, infrastructure and professional coaching. My hope is that para badminton continues to grow in visibility and support, inspiring more young athletes to take up the sport. I expect that in the future, para badminton will be treated on par with mainstream sports, both in terms of recognition and resources."
The man from Sangli, Maharashtra is targeting consistency this year and "preparing for the next cycle". He adds: "My primary goals include winning medals at major international tournaments and continuing to refine my game. Key tournaments on my radar are Asian Championship and other international ranking events. Additionallykingbet, I aim to focus on mental and physical conditioning to ensure peak performance throughout the year."
