Riding on the historic bronze medal in the mixed team event, Indian shuttlers will look to convert their momentum into individual success as the BWF World Junior Championships commence here on Monday.
India’s finest showing in the individual category came 17 years ago at Pune, when Saina Nehwal clinched the girls’ singles gold and RMV Guru Sai Dutt secured the bronze in boys’ singles. To date, India has amassed a total of 11 individual medals, including four silver, in the tournament’s history.
The spotlight will fall on girls’ singles, where junior world number one Tanvi Sharma and China Open quarterfinalist Unnati Hooda offer India its best chance at gold. Drawn in separate halves, the duo could potentially meet in an all-Indian final.
Tanvi, who won the Asian U-19 bronze, has a first-round bye, with a possible quarterfinal against Indonesian seventh seed Thalita Wiryawan marking her initial significant challenge. “I am confident and motivated to do my best,” Tanvi said.
Unnati, seeded eighth, begins her campaign in the second round against Hong Kong’s Liu Hoi Kiu Anna. A potential quarterfinal clash against second seed Anyapat Phichitpreechasak of Thailand awaits.
Also read: India bows out with first-ever medal at BWF Junior Worlds
Other girls’ singles hopefuls include Asian U-19 bronze medallist Vennala K and world number 41 Rakshita Sree, both drawn in the same quarter but facing tough hurdles. Rakshita may meet fourth seed Ranithma Liyanage of Sri Lanka in the pre-quarters, while Vennala could encounter China’s Liu Si Ya at the same stage.
The boys’ singles field promises a sterner challenge. Lalthazuala Hmar could face world junior number one and top seed Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah of Indonesia in the round of 32. Meanwhile, 11th seed Rounak Chouhan faces China’s Li Zhi Hang at the same stage, while compatriots Gnana Dattu TT and 15th seed Suryaksh Rawat are likely to clash in the third round.
In doubles, former junior world number one boys’ pair Bhargav Ram Arigela and Viswa Tej Gobburu will start against Slovenia’s Andrej Macek and Andrej Suchy. The sixth-seeded Indian duo could face reigning Asian Junior Champions Chen Jun Ting and Liu Jun Rong of China in the quarterfinals.
Bhavya Chhabra and Sumith A R will open against Philip Kryger Boe, nephew of former Danish doubles specialist Mathias Boe, and Salomon Thomasen in the round of 64, while Vishnu Kode and Mithileish P Krishnan face seventh-seeded French pair Thibault Gardon and Mady Sow at the same stage.
With individual glory within reach, the Indian contingent will hope that the mixed team bronze serves as a springboard for a historic medal haul in Guwahati.
Follow us
