Nitesh Kumar Nominated for BWF Men's Para Badminton Player of the Year 2025

Olympic champion Nitesh Kumar is among four nominees for the BWF Men's Para Badminton Player of the Year 2025, with finalists being announced at the BWF World Tour Finals 2025 in Hangzhou, China. The nomination highlights his achievements, including gold medals in the Asia Para Badminton Championships and 2024 Paris Olympics.

Nitesh Kumar, the reigning Olympic champion, has been nominated as one of the four contenders for the prestigious BWF Men's Para Badminton Player of the Year 2025. The nomination is a testament to his excellent performances throughout 2024 and 2025, especially his gold medal victories in the Standing Lower (SL3) men's singles at both the Asia Para Badminton Championships and the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Joining Kumar in the nominees category are Malaysia's Cheah Liek Hou, Japan's Daiki Kajiwara, and South Korea's Park Haeseong. The winners will be revealed during the BWF World Tour Finals Gala Dinner in Hangzhou, China, scheduled for December 15, 2025. These annual awards recognize outstanding talent, consistency, and fair play across a year-long eligibility period.

In a display of India's prowess in badminton, two other Indian players, Manisha Ramadass and Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan, have been nominated for the women's category, while Indian pairs have dominated the Para Badminton Pair of the Year nominations. The major categories for able-bodied players did not feature any Indian nominees among the finalists.

(With inputs from agencies.)