India’s challenge at the BWF World Junior Championships got a strong shove forward on Tuesday as top seed Tanvi Sharma, eighth seed Unnati Hooda and Rakshitha Sree R registered comfortable wins to open their campaigns, while every Indian in the boys’ singles bracket also advanced to the Round of 32.
By the close of play, a total of 13 Indians had secured places in the R32 a tidy return from the opening day of action at the National Centre of Excellence. Tanvi’s outing was the headline result of the afternoon session. The top seed needed just 11 minutes to subdue Poland’s Wiktoria Kaletka, running up a 15-2, 15-1 scoreline that underlined her status as a genuine medal prospect. Eighth seed Unnati Hooda also made light work of Hong Kong’s Liu Hoi Anna, winning 15-8, 15-9 in 23 minutes. Rakshitha Sree completed the clean sweep in the women’s singles by beating Canada’s Lucy Yang 15-5, 15-9.
The draw, however, was not without shocks. Seventh-seeded Thalita Wiryawan of Indonesia was an early casualty on the girls’ side, while Chinese Taipei’s Shu-Yu Wen showed grit to overturn a game deficit and progress 12-15, 15-7, 15-8 in a 34-minute contest.
Boys’ singles All four through; Gnana Dattu joins the party later
India’s boys produced a faultless afternoon. Rounak Chouhan (11) beat Sri Lanka’s Thisath Rupathunga 15-3, 15-6; Suryaksh Rawat (15) overcame Turkey’s Yigitcan Erol 15-5, 15-8; Lalthazuala Hmar got past the USA’s Rylan Tan 15-11, 15-5; and later in the evening Gnana Dattu TT beat Brazil’s Joaquim Mendonca 15-10, 15-13 to complete India’s set of progressions. The draw sets up a compelling R32 clash between Gnana Dattu and Suryaksh, a match that will determine an Indian presence in the pre-quarterfinals.
A notable reversal came when Asian Junior bronze medallist Vennala K was outplayed by Thailand’s Tonrug Saeheng, losing 6-15, 5-15 a reminder that form and draw dynamics remain fickle at junior level events.
Doubles and mixed mixed fortunes, tense finishes
India’s contenders in the doubles brackets had varied fortunes. In mixed doubles, the 14th-seeded pair Bhavya Chhabra / Vishakha Toppo upset Indonesia’s Ghian Sofyan / Salsabila Aulia in a three-game fight, 15-4, 13-15, 15-5, recovering from a lapse in the second game to control the decider. C Lalramsanga / Taarini Suri advanced in straighter fashion, 15-12, 15-5.
On the men’s doubles front, sixth seeds Bhargav Ram Arigela / Viswa Tej Gobburu produced a composed performance to blank Slovakia’s Andrej Macek / Andrej Suchy 15-7, 15-6. But heartbreak came for Bhavya Chhabra / Sumith AR, who saved a match point yet fell agonisingly 12-15, 15-10, 14-16 to the Danish duo Philip Boe / Salomon Thomasen. Other Indian pairs in men’s and mixed doubles were unable to convert close encounters, with some exiting after three-game battles.
In women’s doubles, Aanya Bisht / Angel Punera advanced with a 15-12, 15-11 victory over Poland’s Wiktoria Kaletka / Olga Szwarnowiecka, while the pairing of Gayatri Rawat / Mansa Rawat were similarly clinical, dismantling Egypt’s Alya Elghandour / Fatema Rabie 15-3, 15-5. A walkover helped Vennala K / Reshika U progress when their Polish opponents withdrew.
Team India by numbers (selected)
- Indians in R32: 13
- Women’s singles: Tanvi Sharma (1) through; Unnati Hooda (8) through; Rakshitha Sree (10) through; Vennala K is out.
- Men’s singles: Suryaksh Rawat (15) through; Rounak Chouhan (11) through; Lalthazuala Hmar through; Gnana Dattu through.
- Notable doubles progressions: Bhargav/Viswa (men’s doubles), Aanya/Angel and Gayatri/Mansa (women’s doubles), Lalramsanga/Taarini (mixed doubles).
- Close losses: Bhavya/Sumith (men’s doubles) 12-15, 15-10, 14-16; Vansh/Dianka (mixed) lost 15-6, 5-15, 10-15.
Arena atmosphere and VIP visit
The National Centre of Excellence provided the expected high-energy backdrop, and the event received an added boost with a visit from BWF president Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, who interacted with Badminton Association of India officials and watched several matches. Her presence underscored the tournament’s importance in the junior calendar and hinted at BWF’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent in the region.
From a performance perspective, Tuesday’s session reinforced India’s depth in youth badminton across both genders. Tanvi’s emphatic start asserts her as a clear medal contender; Unnati and Rakshitha’s wins add to that optimism. The clean sweep in boys’ singles demonstrates a balance of power that could translate into deeper runs if match-ups hold and pressure moments are negotiated well.
Doubles remain a space for fine margins. India’s pairs showed both the ability to dominate (Gayatri/Mansa; Bhargav/Viswa) and the inability to close out razor-thin contests (Bhavya/Sumith). The mixed outcomes underline the need for mental solidity and tactical clarity in the high-stakes phases. All eyes will be on the Round of 32 fixtures, where Indian shuttlers will seek to convert the healthy R64 return into spots in the pre-quarterfinals and beyond.
The Gnana Dattu vs Suryaksh showdown promises an all-Indian spectacle with pre-quarters qualification on the line. Equally important for India will be how the doubles pairs regroup after narrow defeats and whether the singles seeds can maintain momentum against increasingly tougher opposition. For a team that put 13 players into the R32, the tournament is far from over but Tuesday gave India reason to believe that a respectable medal tally is within reach if composure, fitness and tactical execution align over the coming days.
Match results (selected):
Men’s singles — Suryaksh Rawat bt Yigitcan Erol (TUR) 15-5, 15-8; Rounak Chouhan bt Thisath Rupathunga (SRI) 15-3, 15-6; Lalthazuala Hmar bt Rylan Tan (USA) 15-11, 15-5; Gnana Dattu bt Joaquim Mendonca (BRA) 15-10, 15-13.
Women’s singles — Tanvi Sharma bt Wiktoria Kaletka (POL) 15-2, 15-1; Unnati Hooda bt Liu Hoi Anna (HKG) 15-8, 15-9; Rakshitha Sree bt Lucy Yang (CAN) 15-5, 15-9.
Mixed doubles — Bhavya Chhabra / Vishakha Toppo bt Ghian Sofyan / Salsabila Aulia (INA) 15-4, 13-15, 15-5; Lalramsanga / Taarini Suri bt Ralph Dalojo / Andrea Hernandez (PHI) 15-12, 15-5.
Men’s doubles — Bhargav Ram Arigela / Viswa Tej Gobburu bt Andrej Macek / Andrej Suchy (SVK) 15-7, 15-6.
