Indian Sports Round-Up: Arshad Shaikh Recovering After Asian Para Games Crash
Indian sport has seen a mix of concern, competition and collaboration, from para-cycling and badminton to university research and deaf cricket. Para-cyclist Arshad Shaikh is recovering in Japan after surgery for an injury sustained at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games, while Indian shuttlers Meghana Reddy Mareddy and the men’s doubles pair of Achutaditya Rao Doddavarapu and Arjun Reddy Pochana have missed out on the main draw of the Hylo Open badminton tournament.
Arshad Shaikh undergoes surgery in Japan
Indian para-cyclist Arshad Shaikh has undergone surgery in Shizuoka after suffering a serious fall during the men’s time trial at the recent Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) said on Tuesday that the athlete is recovering well and receiving medical care at Chutoen General Medical Centre in Japan’s Shizuoka Prefecture.
Shaikh sustained a fracture in his left residual limb in the crash. The injury required urgent treatment, and his recovery is being monitored by medical professionals. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and SAI are in regular contact with Shaikh and the Indian Embassy in Japan to coordinate the assistance he needs.
“The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Sports Authority of India are in constant touch with the athlete and the Indian Embassy in Japan and are coordinating all possible assistance required by Arshad,” SAI said in a statement.
India’s Ambassador to Japan, Nagma Mohamed Mallick, visited Shaikh on Monday. The embassy shared photographs of the visit and said the ambassador had wished him a speedy recovery. It also assured members of the Indian team that diplomatic support would continue until doctors determine that Shaikh is fit to travel home.
Shaikh, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, was India’s sole representative in cycling at the Asian Para Games. His accident occurred during a demanding time-trial event, in which athletes race against the clock over a set course. The discipline calls for sustained effort, precise pacing and close control of the bicycle, making a fall particularly concerning for competitors and support teams.
India finished the Games with a record 114 medals, including 30 gold. While the country’s overall performance marked a major achievement, Shaikh’s injury has drawn attention to the medical and logistical support required when athletes compete overseas. His case also highlights the role of national sports authorities and diplomatic missions in helping athletes access treatment and plan a safe return after an emergency.
Indian players fall short in Hylo Open badminton qualifiers
Two Indian entries were unable to progress from qualifying at the USD 500,000 Hylo Open Super 500 badminton tournament in Saarbrücken, Germany. Women’s singles player Meghana Reddy Mareddy and the men’s doubles combination of Achutaditya Rao Doddavarapu and Arjun Reddy Pochana both lost their qualifying matches on Tuesday.
Meghana was beaten by Sri Lanka’s Ranithma Liyanage, 9-21, 10-21, in a match lasting 27 minutes. Liyanage built an early advantage in both games, leaving Meghana with little room to establish a rhythm or turn the rallies in her favour.
In men’s doubles, Achutaditya and Arjun pushed Switzerland’s Yann Orteu and Minh Quang Pham through three games before going down 9-21, 22-20, 11-21. The Indian pair responded strongly after losing the opening game, edging a closely contested second game to level the match. Their opponents, however, regained control in the decider and secured victory after 50 minutes.
Although the qualifying results were disappointing for the two Indian entries, the tournament continues to offer opportunities for the country’s leading players to test themselves against international opposition. Super 500 events are part of the high-level badminton circuit, with demanding draws and valuable ranking points at stake.
Two-time Olympic medallist P. V. Sindhu is among the major Indian names in the women’s singles main draw. Fresh from finishing runner-up at the French Open last week, Sindhu begins her campaign against Turkey’s Neslihan Arin. Her performance will be closely watched as she looks to carry her recent form into another important event.
India will also be represented in women’s singles by Ashmita Chaliha, Devika Sihag, Aakarshi Kashyap, Malvika Bansod and Unnati Hooda. In men’s singles, Lakshya Sen, H. S. Prannoy, Kiran George and Tharun Mannepalli are set to compete. Their progress will give Indian badminton fans several campaigns to follow across the tournament.
Indian and UK universities plan sports science partnership
Somaiya Vidyavihar University (SVU) and the UK’s Sheffield Hallam University have signed a two-year memorandum of understanding to explore collaboration in sports and exercise science. The agreement, supported by Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire, is intended to connect academic expertise with practical needs in sport, physical activity and human performance.
The proposed partnership includes opportunities for joint research, exchanges for staff and students, and the development of academic programmes. The universities will also consider other scholarly initiatives that could strengthen teaching and research in the field.
SVU has identified sport as an important part of its wider academic work and is due to host the FISU World University Championship Squash in 2026. Its sports and exercise science programmes aim to combine classroom learning with practical sporting experience, helping prepare students for careers across sport and related sectors.
Sheffield Hallam contributes established expertise in sport, physical activity, human performance and sports management. SVU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ajay Kapoor said that understanding performance requires scientific research capable of translating observations from the field into better outcomes for sport, health and wellbeing.
National T20 Championship for Deaf begins in Surat
Meanwhile, the 10th National T20 Championship for Deaf has begun in Surat, bringing together 14 teams for a competition organised by the Indian Deaf Cricket Association. The tournament started on Monday and is scheduled to continue until November 1, with matches being played at Bawaji Cricket Ground.
Teams representing Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Mumbai, Vidarbha, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh are taking part. The championship provides a national platform for deaf cricketers to compete, represent their regions and build visibility for inclusive sport.
Together, these developments reflect the breadth of India’s sporting landscape: elite athletes pursuing international success, institutions investing in sports science, and national competitions creating space for more communities to participate. From Shaikh’s recovery in Japan to the badminton action in Germany and the cricket underway in Surat, the stories underline the importance of athlete welfare, preparation and opportunity across disciplines.
