Indian badminton created history on Saturday at the Badminton Asia U-17 & U-15 Championships 2025 in Chengdu, China, as three young shuttlers Lakshya Rajesh, Diksha Sudhakar, and Shaina Manimuthu stormed into the finals of their respective events.
In a landmark achievement, India will crown its first-ever Asian U-17 singles champion after Lakshya and Diksha set up an all-Indian final in the girls’ singles category. This is India’s best-ever collective showing at the continental junior event, with three finalists and two bronze medals already secured, underscoring the nation’s growing dominance in youth badminton across Asia. India’s golden day began with two remarkable semifinal performances in the U-17 girls’ singles draw. Lakshya Rajesh, who stunned Thailand’s top seed Lalita Sattayathadakoon in the quarterfinals, continued her sensational run by defeating Japan’s Haga 21–19, 21–15 in straight games.
Displaying excellent control and composure, Lakshya dominated the rallies with sharp placement and tactical maturity far beyond her age. On the other side of the draw, Diksha Sudhakar produced another flawless performance, sweeping past Su Y of Chinese Taipei 21–8, 21–17. The sixth seed from Tamil Nadu was in complete control from the opening exchanges, using her height and precision to dictate the pace.
With both semifinals ending in convincing Indian victories, Sunday’s title clash between Lakshya and Diksha will mark a watershed moment for Indian badminton the first time two Indians will contest an Asian U-17 girls’ singles final.
Shaina Manimuthu Reaches U-15 Girls’ Final
Adding to the celebrations, top-seeded Shaina Manimuthu booked her spot in the U-15 girls’ singles final after a thrilling three-game battle against China’s Y Yi. The Tamil Nadu youngster prevailed 21–12, 16–21, 21–16 in a tense contest that tested her endurance and mental strength. Despite losing the second game, Shaina regrouped superbly to take control of the decider with deep clears and well-timed smashes. Her victory ensures India will feature in two singles finals across both age categories a first in the history of the event.
Shaina’s success follows her commanding wins earlier in the week, where she overcame opponents from Japan and Indonesia in straight games. Her all-round game combining power, anticipation, and defensive stability has made her one of the most promising U-15 players in Asia this season.
Bronze Medals for Jagsher Singh and Mixed Doubles Pair
India’s medal tally doesn’t stop there. Jagsher Singh Khangurra, who had been in terrific touch throughout the U-17 boys’ singles campaign, signed off with a bronze after falling in the semifinals. His run included a quarterfinal triumph over Hong Kong China’s Zhan Shing Yui (21–13, 21–14), showing India’s increasing depth in the boys’ division. Meanwhile, the U-17 mixed doubles pair of Jangjeet Singh Kajla and Jananika Ramesh added another bronze after a strong campaign that saw them reach the semifinals. The duo displayed great synergy and tactical awareness, advancing past a tough Chinese pairing earlier in the draw.
Their bronze medals brought India’s total medal count to five three guaranteed (from the singles finalists) and two secured bronzes a historic haul for the country at the continental level. The performances in Chengdu reflect a major leap forward for India’s junior badminton program. This generation of players trained under a sharper, more data-driven system has consistently performed across Asian events in 2024–25.
Just months ago, India produced multiple semifinalists at the Asian Junior Championships in Yogyakarta, and now, with three finalists at the Asian U-17 & U-15 Championships, the pipeline looks stronger than ever. These players also represent a new geographical diversity with talents emerging not just from traditional hubs like Hyderabad and Bengaluru, but also from Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and Maharashtra.
The finals on Sunday will see:
•U-17 Girls’ Singles:Diksha Sudhakar vs Lakshya Rajesh 🇮🇳 India assured of gold and silver
•U-15 Girls’ Singles:Shaina Manimuthu (India) vs Opponent TBD
India has already secured five medals, surpassing its previous best performance at the event, achieved in 2022.
More than the numbers, though, the results in Chengdu signify something larger that India’s youth badminton system is not just producing occasional champions but building a sustainable base capable of competing with Asia’s strongest nations like China, Japan, and Thailand. As the players prepare for the finals, the spotlight shines bright on a new generation of Indian shuttlers ready to take the baton forward.
For the first time ever, an Indian will be crowned the Asian U-17 Singles Champion and that alone marks a defining milestone in the story of Indian badminton.
