IAS officer Suhas strikes again to bag bronze in 2026 Asian Para Games

This feat adds to his many international honours to a career that combines to his administrative works in public service with sporting excellence. The 2007-batch IAS officer reached the semifinals after defeating opponents from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand and South Korea.

However, his bid for a place in the final ended against Indonesia’s Fredy Setiawan in a closely contested three-game encounter, as his opponent won 23-21, 8-21, 21-15 to advance to the final, leaving Suhas with the bronze medal.

Announcing his achievement on X, Suhas said he was proud to have won a medal for India and acknowledged the challenging semifinal against his Indonesian opponent.

The latest podium finish adds to an impressive record that includes silver medals in men’s singles SL4 at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, gold at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou and the 2024 BWF Para-Badminton World Championships. He had also won bronze at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta.

The celebrity IAS officer’s achievement is particularly notable because his sporting career has progressed alongside his responsibilities as an IAS officer. Over the years, he has held several important administrative assignments in Uttar Pradesh, including district postings as District Magistrate (DM), while establishing himself as one of India’s leading para-badminton players.

Born on July 2, 1983, in Hassan, Karnataka, Suhas was raised in a family that encouraged education and perseverance. His father, Yathiraj LK, was a government employee and the family moved between places as his career required. His mother is Jayashree CS.

Suhas was born with a congenital impairment affecting his ankle and mobility. But the physical challenge did not deter him from pursuing academic and professional ambitions. He completed his schooling in Karnataka before pursuing a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computer Science and Engineering at the National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal and graduated in 2004 with first-class distinction. He then prepared for the Union Public Service Commission’s Civil Services Examination.

Clearing the examination on his first attempt, he joined the IAS in 2007 and was allotted the Uttar Pradesh cadre. His entry into the civil services marked the beginning of an administrative career that would eventually span district governance, state-level responsibilities and public service during major crises.

During his career, Suhas has served in several districts, including Gautam Buddha Nagar, Prayagraj, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Sonbhadra and Hathras as DM.  His tenure as DM of Gautam Buddha Nagar, which includes Noida, placed him in charge of administration in one of Uttar Pradesh’s major urban and industrial centres. The district’s rapid urbanisation and economic activity bring complex governance demands, including interdepartmental coordination, public service delivery and law-and-order management.

His administrative experience also included responsibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, when district authorities had to coordinate public health measures, maintain essential services and respond to rapidly changing conditions.

His postings across districts with different administrative and developmental priorities have given him experience in public welfare, crisis management and the implementation of government programmes.

Suhas has also served as Secretary, Sports and Youth Welfare and Director General of Youth Welfare and Provincial Rakshak Dal in the Uttar Pradesh government. He has also been empanelled for Joint Secretary-level positions in the Central Government.

Suhas’ ability to sustain an international sporting career while serving in the IAS is a defining feature of his public profile. Administrative assignments demand long working hours, extensive coordination and frequent engagement with officials and the public. Competitive badminton, meanwhile, requires rigorous training, physical conditioning, recovery and sustained preparation for international tournaments.

He once said that he trains late at night after completing official duties and returning to practice early the following morning. Maintaining such a schedule requires considerable discipline and careful management of professional commitments, his colleagues note.

He competes in the SL4 category, which is designed for para-badminton players with eligible impairments affecting one or both lower limbs. The classification enables athletes with comparable functional limitations to compete against one another under the sport’s rules.

Suhas received the Arjuna Award in 2021 in recognition of his sporting achievements. He was also honoured with the Yash Bharti Award in 2016 and the Lakshman Award by the Uttar Pradesh government for his contribution to sport.

Married to Ritu Suhas, a civil servant who has served in Uttar Pradesh’s state administrative service, he has also had to balance family commitments with the demands of public administration and international competition.

The latest medal in Japan adds another chapter to a journey shaped by academic achievement, administrative responsibility and sporting ambition. From an engineering graduate in Karnataka to an IAS officer serving in Uttar Pradesh and a two-time Paralympic silver medallist, Suhas has established a rare record across two demanding professions.