Thulasimathi Murugesan

{{Infobox badminton player

| name = Thulasimathi Murugesan

| birth_date = {{Birth-date and age|11 April 2002}}

| country = India

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalSport|Women's para-badminton}} 30px

{{MedalCountry|{{IND}}}}

{{MedalCompetition|Paralympic Games}}File:IPC logo (2019).svg

}}

Thulasimathi Murugesan (born 11 April 2002){{Cite web |title=MURUGESAN Thulasimathi |url=https://www.paralympic.org/en/paris-2024-paralympics/athlete/thulasimathi-murugesan_2499821 |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=Paris 2024 Paralympics}} ([https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024-paralympics/athlete/thulasimathi-murugesan_2499821 alternate link], [https://paris2024.rtve.es/es/paris-2024-paralimpicos/atleta/thulasimathi-murugesan_2499821 alternate link 2]) is a badminton paralympian from Tamil Nadu. She represented India at the 2022 Asian Para Games held at Gangzhou, China.{{Cite web |last=Sportstar |first=Team |date=2023-10-21 |title=India at Asian Para Games 2023: Full list of Indian athletes |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/asian-games/india-at-asian-para-games-2023-complete-list-of-indian-athletes-china-hangzhou-2022-news/article67445414.ece |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=Sportstar |language=en}} She won three medals in para badminton competitions, SL3-SU5 and SU5 classes. She made history as the first Indian woman shuttler to win a Paralympic silver medal, following a remarkable journey to the final in the SU5 category.

Early life and education

Thulasimathi is from Kancheepuram. She had a deformity in her left hand from birth which restricted her movements and flexion to below 30 per cent. Her father Murugesan was a sports addict and made both their daughters play together and did not reveal about her condition to Thulasimathi. She was supported by her sister, Kiruttigha. She was later spotted by coach Irfan, who was instrumental in getting her to Gopichand Academy at Hyderabad with the support of Olympic Gold Quest.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-02 |title=Paris Paralympics: Shuttler Thulasimathi Murugesan takes silver, vindication for family of modest means |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/badminton/paris-paralympics-thulasimathi-murugesan-silver-family-modest-means-9546699/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} She is a student of veterinary science at a college in Namakkal, affiliated with Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai.

Career

In December 2023, Thulasimathi won the gold medal in the women’s doubles partnering Manasi Joshi at the 5th Fazza Dubai Para Badminton International 2023.{{Cite news |date=2023-12-18 |title=Manasi-Murugesan win gold, Pramod Bhagat secures two silver medals at Fazza Dubai Para Badminton International |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/badminton/manasi-murugesan-win-gold-pramod-bhagat-secures-two-silver-medals-at-fazza-dubai-para-badminton-international/articleshow/106091958.cms |access-date=2024-01-02 |issn=0971-8257}} She later won another bronze in the mixed doubles SL3 and SU5, along with Nitesh Kumar. Along with Manasi, she is second in the World Para-Badminton doubles rankings.{{Cite web |last=PTI |date=2023-12-18 |title=Manasi-Murugesan pair wins women's doubles gold, Bhagat secures 2 silver medals at Fazza Dubai Para Badminton International |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/badminton/pramod-bhagat-silver-medal-2023-fazza-dubai-para-badminton-international-manasi-joshi-thulasimathi-murugesan-results/article67650233.ece |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=Sportstar |language=en}} She trains under coaches Gopichand and Irfan at Hyderabad.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Dubai Para Badminton International 2023: Manasi-Thulasimathi wins doubles gold, India return with 14 medals |url=https://khelnow.com/badminton/2023-12-dubai-para-badminton-international-2023-report |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=Khel Now |language=English}} She is supported by [https://www.olympicgoldquest.in/ Olympic Gold Quest.]{{Cite web |title=Para Badminton {{!}} OGQ |url=https://www.olympicgoldquest.in/paralympics-badminton.html |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=www.olympicgoldquest.in}}

In the 4th Asian Para Games at Hangzhou she won three medals, gold, silver and bronze.{{Cite web |last=Parkar |first=Ubaid |date=2023-10-28 |title=Asian Para Games 2023 medal tally: Indian winners - full list |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/asian-para-games-2023-hangzhou-india-medal-winners-tally-table |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=www.olympics.com}} She won a bronze medal on 25 October 2023 in the mixed doubles SL3-SU5 class pairing with Nitesh Kumar. She went on to win a silver medal partnering Manasi Joshi in the women's doubles SL3-SU5 on 27 October and topped it with a gold in the individual women’s singles SU5 class.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-25 |title=Asian Para Games Day 3: Medal rush continues for India; medal tally stands at 34 |url=https://www.livemint.com/sports/asian-para-games-day-3-medal-rush-continues-nitesh-kumar-thulasimathi-murugesan-bag-bronze-in-badminton-mixed-doubles-11698208260678.html |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=mint |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Sekar |first=Divya |title=Asian Para Games : பாரா ஆசிய விளையாட்டு போட்டி - பேட்மிண்டனில் தங்கம் வென்ற தமிழச்சி! |url=https://tamil.hindustantimes.com/sports/murugesan-thulasimathi-wins-gold-medal-in-womens-singles-su5-badminton-event-at-asian-para-games-2023-131698389246885.html |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=Tamil Hindustan Times |language=ta}}

Awards

Thulasimathi won the Sportstar Aces Awards 2024 Sportswoman of the Year award for her exploits in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Sportstar |first=Team |date=2024-02-08 |title=Sportstar Aces Awards 2024: Thulasimathi Murugesan wins Sportswoman of the Year award |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/aces-awards/sportswoman-of-the-year-2023-award-thulasimathi-murugesan-para-badminton-parasports-sportstar-aces-awards-2024/article67824934.ece |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Sportstar |language=en}}