Guwahati, October 8, 2025 – India’s junior shuttlers continued their flawless campaign at the YONEX SUNRISE BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships 2025, powering into the quarter-finals with a commanding 45-37, 45-34 victory over the United Arab Emirates in their final Group H encounter at the National Centre of Excellence here on Wednesday.
The win marked India’s third straight triumph in the group stage, following dominant performances against Nepal (45-18, 45-17) and Sri Lanka (45-27, 45-21), ensuring they topped the pool unbeaten and earned a spot in the last eight of the Suhandinata Cup competition.
The young Indian squad, brimming with promise, showcased depth and tactical acumen, rotating players seamlessly across the two sets to maintain control throughout.
In the opening set, USA Open finalist Tanvi Sharma set the tone with a brisk 9-5 win over Prakriti Bharath in girls’ singles, giving India an early 9-5 lead. The mixed doubles pair of C Lalramsanga and Vishakha Toppo then extended the advantage to 18-10 with a solid performance against Adithya Kiran and Sakshi Kurbkhelgi.
Despite UAE clawing back through boys’ singles, where Hmar Lalthazuala faced stiff resistance from Bharath Lateesh (yielding 9 points to UAE), and boys’ doubles featuring Bhagav Ram Arigela and Viswa Tej Gobburu against Riyan Malhan and Bharath Lateesh (10 points for UAE), India held firm to clinch the set 45-37.
The second set saw further strategic tweaks, with Unnati Hooda stepping in for Sharma to dispatch Bharath 9-6 in girls’ singles, establishing a 9-6 edge. Suryansh Rawat replaced Lalthazuala in boys’ singles, while the doubles combinations remained potent, allowing India to cruise to a 45-34 finish without dropping rhythm.
UAE, bolstered by players familiar with the Indian domestic circuit, mounted a spirited challenge but couldn’t breach India’s defensive wall. The hosts’ clinical execution highlighted their preparation under the guidance of coaches, with every discipline contributing crucially to the aggregate score.
India’s reward is a mouthwatering quarter-final clash against a battle-hardened South Korea on Thursday, October 9, promising high-octane action as both teams vie for a semi-final berth. The Koreans, known for their technical prowess in doubles, will test India’s resolve, but the unbeaten streak has the home crowd buzzing with optimism.
With the tournament hosted in Guwahati from October 6-11, India’s junior brigade is eyeing a deep run, building on the legacy of past performances in international mixed team events. All eyes now turn to the knockout phase, where the young guns aim to etch their names in badminton history.
Myself Aditya and I am from Mumbai, India. As an intern, I joined the local news agency in Mumbai named “The Mumbai News”. Now I am working with various News Agencies and I provide them reports from Mumbai and other parts of India.
