Sai len

Asian Para Badminton Championship: “When I was two years old, I got polio in my right leg. 60% of my right leg was left disabled. People in my neighbourhood and even relatives would tell my parents, ‘A child as precious as gold has turned into dust.’ It hurt my parents deeply, and somewhere inside, they too would wonder, ‘What will my child do in life?’

That is how Abu Hubaida, now World No. 4 in men’s doubles para-badminton, remembers his earliest years. Today, he stands as one of India’s most consistent para-athletes, a four-time national champion and a Laxman Awardee, but his road has been shaped as much by resistance as by support.

Hubaida is one of India’s most celebrated para-badminton athletes, who has just got a bronze medal in men’s doubles (WH1- WH2) at the 2025 Asian Para-Badminton Championships in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. Partnering with Prem Kumar Ale, Hubaida defeated Thailand’s A. Sai Len and A. Sriboran in straight sets (21- 12, 21- 12). This is India’s first-ever wheelchair doubles medal at the Asian continental level. “This win is not just a medal for me, but a moment of pride for every Indian para-athlete. I dedicate this to all those who dream beyond limits,” he said.