Tokyo Olympic, Exclusive: Bureaucrats often go to the Olympics with different sets of responsibilities. But going as an athlete is a rare scenario. However, a District Officer of Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddha Nagar has achieved the feat by qualifying in Paralympic badminton.
Suhas Yathiraj, a 2007 batch IAS officer from Uttar Pradesh has qualified in the badminton event of the Paralympics. Suhas is also the District Magistrate of Gautam Buddha Nagar.
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Suhas is the first bureaucrat of the country who has, in the past, brought medals for the country in any international badminton championship. Suhas Yathiraj is the bronze medalist at the Asian Para Games in Jakarta in 2018 and has even won a gold medal at the Asian Championships in China in 2016.
Suhas has won medals in many international competitions for the country.
Now, this IAS officer has brought laurels to the country by qualifying in Paralympics. With this achievement, Suhas has become the second player in the world ranking of Para-Badminton.
Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj is an Indian professional Para-Badminton player currently ranked world No.2 in Men’s Singles and an officer of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) of 2007 batch of Uttar Pradesh cadre.
Prior to his posting as District Magistrate of Gautam Buddha Nagar, the 38-year-old officer was formerly serving as the District Magistrate of Prayagraj.
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Suhas was on a leave from government service when he was summoned by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath himself to take charge of Noida, a Covid hotspot, as its new district magistrate (DM) in March 2020 during first wave of the pandemic.
Suhas will now be representing India in the Para-Badminton event at the Tokyo Paralympics, starting 24 August
(With inputs from Kuntal Chakraborty)