Para-badminton player Aarti Patil wins bronze medal in Bahrain

Para-badminton player Aarti Patil returned to the international circuit with a bronze medal following a leg injury that kept her out of action for months and she is now aiming to reach the top 10 by August to be eligible to play in the Level 1 tournaments of the BWF circuit. Patil, who had not competed in any international event since the BWF World Championships in Thailand in February, was defeated by compatriot Manisha Ramadass in the semi-finals of the women’s SU5 category at the Para-Badminton tournament in Bahrain on Saturday. Preparing for the semi-finals has helped Patil jump six places to reach 14th in the world rankings, but she knows she needs to climb further.

“I need to be in the top 12 to play in the Level BWF tournaments and that is my next goal. But the most important thing is that I am focused on giving my best at the Asian Championships and World Championships next year and working towards that goal,” said Patil, who will compete in the Uganda Para-Badminton Tournament in July.

The young woman, who was born in a village in Karnataka’s Belgavi district but currently trains in Pune, credited the support of the Punit Balan Group for easing the financial pressure on her.

“The costs of competing in these international tournaments have increased and it was only thanks to the financial help from the Punit Balan group that I was able to play in the World Championship and this tournament. I’m looking forward to playing in Uganda and changing the color of my medal,” she added.

The Punit Balan Group has committed to supporting Aarti for three years and will provide full support in her quest to win medals on the international stage.