# Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj

Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj (born 2 July 1983) is an Indian para-badminton player and the World No. 1 in men's singles. He won the silver medals at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 games thus becoming the only Indian para-badminton player to win back to back medals at the Games.
Yathiraj is also an IAS officer of the 2007 batch of Uttar Pradesh cadre, and has served as District Magistrate of Gautam Buddha Nagar & Prayagraj. He won the gold medal at the National Para Badminton Championships in 2018. He is also an engineer who graduated from National Institute of Technology, Surathkal. He is the only IAS officer in India to win a Paralympic medal and an Arjuna Award.
At the 2016 Asian Para Badminton Championships, Beijing, China, he became the first Indian bureaucrat to win a professional International Badminton Championship. He won gold beating Hary Susanto of Indonesia in the finals when he was serving as District Magistrate of Azamgarh. He came to International attention when he won gold and became first ever serving Indian bureaucrat to represent and win a medal for India at global level.
In December 2016, he became the recipient of Uttar Pradesh's highest civilian honor, the Yash Bharti, which he received on 1 December 2016 from the erstwhile Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav. On 3 December, World Disabilities Day, he received award from the state government for his performances in para sports. He also holds distinctive record for winning many awards while serving in his official capacity. He has been awarded for his performances by Governor of Uttar Pradesh for his duties related to elections, by Revenue Minister and Chairman, Board of Revenue for duties regarding revenue administration. Suhas is also supported by GoSports Foundation through the Para Champions Programme.
Since his appointment in February 2023, he is serving as the Secretary and Director General of Youth Welfare and Prantiya Rakshak Dal, a department of the Government of Uttar Pradesh.

## Early life and education

Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj was born to Yathiraj L K(late) and Jayashree C S in Hassan, Karnataka. Sibling : Sharath L Y, His early schooling happened in Dudda near Hassan district. Since his father was a government servant, he had to travel and move with father during his postings at different places. He did most of his secondary education in DVS independent college Shivamogga, Karnataka. He graduated from National Institute of Technology, Surathkal, Karnataka in Computer Science and Engineering branch in 2004 by scoring First class with Distinction.

## Posts held

| Position | Place | Tenure |
| Probationer | Agra | 1 year |
| Joint Magistrate | Azamgarh | 1 year 3 months |
| Chief Development Officer | Mathura | 4 months |
| District Magistrate | Maharajganj | 3 months |
| District Magistrate | Hathras | 10 months |
| District Magistrate | Sonbhadra | 3 months |
| District Magistrate | Jaunpur | 2 years 3 months |
| District Magistrate | Azamgarh | 1 year 11 months |
| District Magistrate | Prayagraj | 1 year 4 months |
| District Magistrate | Gautam Buddha Nagar | Incumbent |

## Personal life

Suhas is married to Ritu Suhas, who got selected as Mrs U.P in Mrs. India 2019 contest a PCS officer currently posted as ADM (Administration) in Ghaziabad. His daughter Saanvi is 13 years old and son Vivaan is 9 years old. His wife has also been awarded for excellent work in voter awareness in general elections.

## Achievements
### Paralympic Games

Men's singles SL4
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2020 | Yoyogi National Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan | Lucas Mazur | 21–15, 17–21, 15–21 | Silver |
| 2024 | Porte de La Chapelle Arena, Paris, France | Lucas Mazur | 9–21, 13–21 | Silver |

### World Championships

Men's singles SL4
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2024 | Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall, Pattaya, Thailand | Fredy Setiawan | 21–18, 21–18 | Gold |

### Asian Para Games

Men's singles SL4
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2022 | Binjiang Gymnasium, Guangzhou, China | Mohd Amin Burhanuddin | 13–21, 21–18, 21–9 | Gold |

### Asian Championships

Men's singles SL4
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2016 | China Administration of Sport for Persons with Disabilities, Beijing, China | Hary Susanto | 21–4, 21–11 | Gold |

### BWF Para Badminton World Circuit (1 title, 4 runners-up)

The BWF Para Badminton World Circuit – Grade 2, Level 1, 2 and 3 tournaments has been sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation from 2022.
Men's singles SL4
| Year | Tournament | Level | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2023 | Thailand Para-Badminton International | Level 2 | Sukant Kadam | 21–14, 17–21, 21–11 | Winner |
| 2023 | Bahrain Para-Badminton International | Level 2 | Mohd Amin Burhanuddin | 21–16, 21–23, 17–21 | Runner-up |
| 2023 | Dubai Para-Badminton International | Level 1 | Mohd Amin Burhanuddin | 13–21, 16–21 | Runner-up |
| 2024 | Spanish Para-Badminton International I | Level 1 | Lucas Mazur | 18–21, 6–21 | Runner-up |
| 2024 | 4 Nations Para-Badminton International | Level 1 | Lucas Mazur | 7–21, 11–21 | Runner-up |

### International tournaments (2011–2021) (4 titles, 5 runners-up)

Men's singles SL4
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2017 | Turkish Para-Badminton International | Sukant Kadam | 21–16, 21–10 | Winner |
| 2017 | Japan Para-Badminton International | Lucas Mazur | 14–21, 21–14, 15–21 | Runner-up |
| 2018 | Turkish Para-Badminton International | Lucas Mazur | 10–21, 19–21 | Runner-up |
| 2019 | Turkish Para-Badminton International | Lucas Mazur | 21–16, 22–20 | Winner |
| 2019 | Irish Para-Badminton International | Lucas Mazur | 19–21, 17–21 | Runner-up |
| 2020 | Brazil Para-Badminton International | Lucas Mazur | 9–21, 21–16, 21–19 | Winner |
| 2020 | Peru Para-Badminton International | Sukant Kadam | 21–19, 21–16 | Winner |
Men's doubles SL3–SL4
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 2019 | China Para-Badminton International | Umesh Vikram Kumar | Pramod Bhagat Manoj Sarkar | 21–18, 16–21, 15–21 | Runner-up |
| 2019 | Denmark Para-Badminton International | Umesh Vikram Kumar | Mongkhon Bunsun Siripong Teamarrom | 21–14, 8–21, 12–21 | Runner-up |

## Awards and recognition
### In sports

* Awarded Arjuna Award (2nd Highest Sport Award after Khel Ratna) (2021)
* Yash Bharti, highest civilian honour of UP. (2016)
* Best Para Sportsperson, by State government of Uttar Pradesh on World Disability Day on 3 December 2016 in Lucknow
* Memento felicitation by president BAI (Badminton Association of India) during PBL (Premier Badminton League) in Lucknow on 6 January 2017
* On the occasion of National Sports Day, 2017 (August, 29th, 2017), he was given special award by Hon'ble Chief Minister, UP for winning International Medals for the Country and also received cash prize of 10 Lac rupees and appreciation certificate.

### In administration

* In 2016, he received Yash Bharti, UP's highest civilian award.
* Shortlisted for Prime Minister's award for excellent performance in Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Award
* Developed Mobile Application for Kuposhan ka Darpan and Pregnancy ka Darpan, to help undernourished children and pregnant mothers
* Developed Mobile Application for helping differently abled voters during general elections
* Awarded by Revenue minister, Government of UP and Chairman Board of Revenue for excellent work in administration
* Awarded by Hon’ble Governor UP for good performance in election related work
* During his tenure as the District Magistrate, Azamgarh, he also got shortlisted for Prime Minister's award for exemplary work in PM Jan Dhan Yojna on civil services day, 2016