India’s junior contingent continued its encouraging run at the YONEX Dutch Junior International 2026, with multiple singles players progressing deeper into the draw at the DEGIRO-hal in Haarlem.
After a positive opening day, the Indian shuttlers built on that momentum with composed performances across both men’s and women’s singles categories. At the forefront of the campaign is Dev Ruparelia, who has strung together a series of authoritative wins to book his place in the pre-quarterfinals of the men’s singles event.
Dev Ruparelia Leads the Charge
Ruparelia began his campaign with a straight-games win over Rokas Lesinskas of Lithuania, 21-15, 21-18, in a controlled 29-minute performance. He then raised his level further in an all-Indian clash, dismantling compatriot Pranit Somani 21-9, 21-6 in just 24 minutes to advance to the Round of 32.
The Indian dictated rallies from the outset in that contest, maintaining attacking pressure and keeping exchanges short. His court coverage and precision at the net ensured that Somani was unable to settle into rhythm.
In the subsequent round, Ruparelia defeated France’s Clement Massias 21-13, 21-11 in straight games, continuing his efficient run through the draw. The win secured his place in the pre-quarterfinals, where he is set to face fourth seed Chung-Hsiang Yih of Chinese Taipei his toughest challenge yet in the tournament.
Across his matches so far, Ruparelia has shown composure and control, winning crucial points early in games and maintaining scoreboard pressure throughout.
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While Ruparelia’s victories have been clinical, Nishchal Chand’s path has demanded resilience. In a gripping men’s singles encounter lasting 1 hour and 21 minutes, Nishchal overcame Hong Kong’s Chan Yee Hei in three games. He edged the opening game 21-19, demonstrating patience in extended rallies. However, Chan responded strongly in the second game, taking it 21-10 and forcing a decider.
The third game turned into a test of nerve. With both players exchanging leads in the closing stages, Nishchal held his composure to clinch the decider 23-21. The ability to manage pressure at 20-all proved decisive as he secured his place in the Round of 16.
Nishchal will now face Denmark’s 12th seed Frederik Hinding, a match that will require tactical discipline and consistency against a higher-ranked opponent.
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In the women’s singles draw, Shaina Manimuthu displayed strong recovery skills in her second-round match against Denmark’s Ida Nissen. After narrowly dropping the first game 19-21, Shaina recalibrated effectively. She tightened her defensive positioning and increased the tempo of her attack, racing through the next two games 21-7, 21-7 in just 37 minutes.
The turnaround highlighted her adaptability — identifying weaknesses in her opponent’s movement and capitalizing on mid-court opportunities. She now advances to face Korea’s Han Bi Kim in the next round, where she will need to sustain that intensity.
Early Round Success Sets the Tone
India’s encouraging run began on the opening day, with several players progressing in the early rounds. Pranit Somani secured a hard-fought three-game victory over Denmark’s Christopher Kunckel, winning 21-13, 21-23, 21-11. After losing a tight second game, Somani regrouped to dominate the decider.
Akhil Reddy Bobba advanced comfortably with a 21-11, 21-9 win over Germany’s Jarno Deters, displaying clean stroke production and consistent depth control. Samuel Tamang also progressed with a commanding 21-9, 21-9 victory over Germany’s Nils Barion, while Aanayan Borah edged Milan Zeisig 22-20, 21-19 in a tightly contested match.
In addition, fifth seed Durga Esha Kandrapu progressed in women’s singles, reinforcing India’s presence across both draws.
Tactical Patterns and Emerging Confidence
A notable feature of the Indian performances has been their ability to manage tempo shifts. Whether through quick finishes like Ruparelia’s dominant wins or endurance-based victories like Nishchal’s marathon encounter, the players have shown a range of competitive responses.
The Dutch Junior International is a key exposure platform on the European circuit, often testing players against varied playing styles from fast, attacking Scandinavian opponents to tactically structured East Asian shuttlers.
As the tournament moves into the latter stages, matchups will become increasingly demanding. Ruparelia’s clash against fourth seed Chung-Hsiang Yih will serve as a benchmark test, while Nishchal’s Round of 16 encounter and Shaina’s next assignment will determine how deep India’s singles campaign can go.
With multiple players still in contention, the Indian junior squad has established a solid foundation at the YONEX Dutch Junior International 2026.
The coming rounds will test their tactical maturity, but the early signs indicate a group prepared to compete at the highest junior level on the European circuit.
