Kadam, a 2018 Asian Para Games bronze medallist, took to twitter to address the decision taken by the Mission Olympic Cell and tweeted out to Sports Minister, Kiren Rijiju.
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Sukant Kadam, World number 5 para badminton player expressed his disappointment after being excluded from Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). Kadam says his name was taken off the list without a “justified reason”. Kadam, a 2018 Asian Para Games bronze medallist, took to twitter to address the decision taken by the Mission Olympic Cell and tweeted out to Sports Minister, Kiren Rijiju.
“Hon’ble @KirenRijiju sir, It is very disappointing and discouraging to be excluded from #TOPScheme without any justified reason and despite delivering medal winning performance in all Paralympic Qualification events,” the 27-year-old said.
Kadam won a bronze medal in men’s singles SL4 event at the 2019 BWF Para-Badminton World Championships in Basel. Kadam also bagged a Silver medal at a more recent event– Dubai Para-Badminton International 2021. Kadam lost 15-21, 6-21 to French shuttler Lucas Mazur in the final of SL4 category.However, Kadam lost to Pramod Bhagat and Manoj Sarkar in men’s doubles SL3 – SL4 event.
He was also among the five para shuttlers who were a part of TOPS in March 2019. The other shuttlers were Manoj Sarkar and Pramod Bhagat from men’s Singles SL3, Tarun and Suhas Yathiraj from men’s Singles SL4.
Athletes in the SL3 category generally have an impairment in one or both lower limbs, and a compromised ability to walk/run properly. To minimise the impact of their impairment, the players only play in half-court (length-wise).
The impairment of athletes who fall in the SL4 category is of a lesser degree compared to SL3. They play full-court because they run faster and have better balance when compared to SL3 athletes.
