India’s junior shuttlers made a formidable start at the Badminton Asia U-17 and U-15 Championships 2025, defeating Chinese opponents on the opening day and signalling strong prospects for medals across both age categories.
In the U-15 boys’ singles, SL Dhakshan Sugumaran staged a spirited comeback to defeat China’s Lyu Ke Ting 18-21, 21-14, 21-13, while Wazir Singh also emerged victorious in a tightly contested match against Xia Jun Long 21-18, 18-21, 21-17. Pushkar Sai and Prabhu Dhyani advanced smoothly from the round of 64 with straight-game wins over Thai opponents, emphasising India’s depth in the junior ranks.
The girls’ singles produced equally impressive results. Anvi Rathore dominated UAE’s Anishka Anu 21-4, 21-9, showcasing precise strokes and composure under pressure.
India’s U-17 contingent also began confidently. Mixed doubles pairs Punith Suresh/Aditi Deepak Raj and Jangjeet Singh Kajla/Jananika Ramesh progressed to the round of 16, defeating their Chinese and Japanese rivals respectively. In boys’ singles, Nischal Chand outplayed Laos’ Souphaxay Simmanong 21-8, 21-7, while Hardik Divyansh secured a 21-14, 21-14 win over Japan’s Issei Matsuhita.
Also read: Indian para shuttlers excel in China, bag gold and silvers
Badminton Asia’s U-17 and U-15 Championships are considered a key breeding ground for the continent’s future stars, and India has gradually established itself as a strong contender in both categories. The event has seen Indian juniors claim multiple medals in recent editions, including one gold and one bronze in 2024, and one gold, one silver, and one bronze in 2023, both held in Chengdu.
A total of 36 Indian shuttlers are participating across both age groups this year, aiming to improve on past performances. The championships serve as a crucial platform to assess emerging talent and prepare juniors for the transition to senior international events, particularly as India seeks to strengthen its position in Asia, a continent traditionally dominated by China, Japan, and Indonesia.
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