India recorded its best-ever day at the BWF World Junior Championships, with five entries storming into the quarterfinals at the National Centre of Excellence.
The day saw spirited performances from Gnana Dattu TT in men’s singles, the mixed doubles duo of Bhavya Chhabra and Vishakha Toppo, and girls’ singles stars Tanvi Sharma and Unnati Hooda, marking a historic moment for Indian badminton’s next generation. Competing in his first-ever World Junior Championships, Gnana Dattu TT pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the day, defeating eighth seed Garret Tan of the USA 15–12, 15–13 in straight games. The 17-year-old displayed remarkable tactical awareness and poise under pressure, particularly in the latter halves of both games, to outplay his experienced opponent.
The match started as a tight affair, with both players cautious and unwilling to give away early points. Locked at 8–8 in both games, Dattu began dictating rallies with clever changes of pace using soft drops and flat flicks to keep Tan off-balance. His ability to hold nerve in the clutch moments stood out, especially after the American saved three match points in the second game. Dattu, however, stayed composed to convert his fourth opportunity.
“Though he has more experience than me because he has played a few senior tournaments, I was confident that I can beat him if I play at my best,” Dattu said after the win. “I’m happy that I could do that today.”
Bhavya and Vishakha Turn the Tables on Third Seeds
If Dattu’s victory was about calm precision, Bhavya Chhabra and Vishakha Toppo’s win was about fearless aggression. The Indian pair produced a stunning comeback to upset third seeds Thibault Gardon and Agathe Cuevas of France 12–15, 15–11, 15–12 and book their spot in the mixed doubles quarterfinals. After losing the opening game, the Indians regrouped quickly and adjusted their strategy. The second game saw them adopt a more attacking approach, with Bhavya taking initiative at the net and Vishakha setting up attacking opportunities through sharp mid-court placements. The decider became a test of nerves as the French pair led 11–8 after the change of ends.
At that crucial stage, coach intervention proved decisive. “While trailing at 8–11, the coach told us to attack more and play soft at the net to ensure we get to attack,” Bhavya said post-match. “We simply listened it was easier to attack from that side.” The adjustment worked perfectly as the Indians won six consecutive points to swing the match and close it out 15–12. They will next face Hung Bing Fu and Chou Yun An of Chinese Taipei, who defeated the Korean duo Kim Tae Hyun and Moon In Seo 15–9, 15–11 in their pre-quarterfinal.
Tanvi and Unnati Cruise Through
Top seed Tanvi Sharma continued her flawless campaign, showing why she’s among the brightest young prospects in Indian badminton. She made short work of China’s Sun Li Yuan, winning 15–8, 15–5 with a display of aggressive control and clean net play. She now faces Japan’s Saki Matsumoto in the last eight.
Meanwhile, Unnati Hooda, seeded eighth, shrugged off an inconsistent start to defeat Malaysia’s Carine Tee 15–10, 15–7. The 17-year-old recovered well after trailing early, relying on her deep smashes and superior movement to dictate rallies. Her next challenge will be the formidable second seed Anyapat Phichitpreechasak of Thailand.
While India celebrated multiple high points, there were also narrow exits. In women’s doubles, eighth seeds Vennala K and Reshika U lost a hard-fought match to Indonesia’s Salsabila Aulia and Jania Situmorang 16–14, 12–15, 8–15. In women’s singles, Rakshitha Sree went down fighting against Sri Lanka’s Ranithma Liyanage, the fourth seed, losing 11–15, 9–15.
A Record Day for Indian Juniors
Thursday’s results mark a milestone five Indian entries in the quarterfinals of a BWF World Junior Championships, the highest-ever representation by the country in the tournament’s history.
The quarterfinalists are:
- Gnana Dattu TT – Boys’ Singles
- Tanvi Sharma – Girls’ Singles
- Unnati Hooda – Girls’ Singles
- Bhavya Chhabra / Vishakha Toppo – Mixed Doubles
- Bhargav / Viswa – Men’s Doubles
The impressive run underscores the depth of India’s junior badminton system and the growing technical and mental maturity of its emerging stars.
Indian Results – Day 4
Men’s Singles:
Gnana Dattu TT bt [8] Garret Tan (USA) 15–12, 15–13
Women’s Singles:
[1] Tanvi Sharma bt Li Yuan Sun (CHN) 15–8, 15–5
[8] Unnati Hooda bt Carine Tee (MAS) 15–10, 15–7
[10] Rakshitha Sree lost to [4] Ranithma Liyanage (SRI) 11–15, 9–15
Women’s Doubles:
[8] Vennala K / Reshika U lost to Salsabila Aulia / Jania Situmorang (INA) 16–14, 12–15, 8–15
Mixed Doubles:
[14] Bhavya Chhabra / Vishakha Toppo bt [3] Thibault Gardon / Agathe Cuevas (FRA) 12–15, 15–11, 15–12
India now stands on the brink of a historic medal haul a testament to the country’s investment in its junior ecosystem and the competitive hunger of its young shuttlers. As the action heads into the quarterfinals, the nation will be watching closely with belief that the next generation is ready to make its mark on the world stage.
📸 Credits: @BAI_Media
