Odisha shuttlers achieved notable success by grabbing four bronze medals in the Uganda Para Badminton International 2024, a Badminton World Federation (BWF) Level 3 tournament, which was held at the Lugogo Indoor Stadium in Kampala, Uganda from 2 to 7 July 2024.

Deep Ranjan Bisoyee and Nurul Hussain Khan captured one bronze each in both singles and doubles, while Subhrajeet Maharana secured one bronze in doubles with Bisoyee as his partner.

Bisoyee, the second most decorated para-badminton international of the State after Paralympic and World champion Pramod Bhagat, won the singles bronze medal in mens SL4 category after losing his semifinal match against fellow Indian Abhijeet Sakhuja 17-21, 10-21. Earlier in the quarterfinals, Bisoyee beat Indian opponent Yogesh 21-18, 22-20.

Nurul Hussain Khan won his singles bronze medal in mens WH2 category by reaching semifinals, where he was defeated by fellow countryman Munna Khalid 21-8, 21-8. Earlier the quarterfinals, Khan got the better of another Indian, Santosh Govindan 16-21, 23-21, 21-15.

The duo of Deep Ranjan Bisoyee and Subhrajeet Maharana won the doubles bronze medal in mens doubles SU5 category, which was above their original category of SL4. They secured a semifinal berth directly by getting bye in the quarterfinals. But in the last-four clash, Bisoyee and Maharana lost to Indian pair of Jatin Azad and Abhijeet Sakhuja 17-21, 19-21.

Nurul Hussain Khan claimed his doubles bronze medal in mens WH1-WH2 category by reaching semifinals with Konstantin Afinogenov of Israel as his partner. The Indo-Israel duo won two matches and lost two at the league stage to finish third in the group. But in the semifinals they lost to Indian pair of Purna Rao Chapara and Munna Khalid 17-21, 11-21 to settle for the bronze medal.

Meanwhile, Bibhasindhu Barik, also from Odisha, missed a bronze medal on his international debut by suffering defeat in the mens singles SL3 category against fellow Indian Dinesh Rajaiyah 11-21, 11-21. Barike entered quarterfinals, winning and losing one match each at the group stage.

Barik lost his first league match against Indian opponent Mantu Kumar 11-21, 13-21, but bounced back stronger to win his second match against Ugandan David Mukisa 22-20, 21-19.
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PHOTO: Odisha shuttlers (L-R) Deep Ranjan Bisoyee, Subhrajeet Maharana, Bibhasindhu Barik and Nurul Hussain Khan pose at the Uganda Para Badminton International in Kampala, Uganda on 7 July 2024.