The Senior National Badminton Championships witnessed a compelling mix of experience, resilience and emerging talent on Thursday as several lower-ranked players scripted notable upsets to reach the pre-quarterfinal stage in Vijayawada.
In a tournament that traditionally rewards consistency and pedigree, the women’s singles draw saw seasoned campaigners and rising stars alike disrupt the established order, while the men’s singles and mixed doubles also produced results that underlined the depth of competition in the domestic circuit.
In the women’s singles, the spotlight was firmly on Shruti Mundada, Parul Choudhary and Tanvi Patri, all of whom registered wins over higher-ranked opponents to book their places in the pre-quarters. Shruti, drawing on her experience, delivered one of the most convincing performances of the day as she dismantled seventh seed Jiya Rawat in straight games. The 21-14, 21-9 scoreline reflected Shruti’s control of the rallies, as she dictated play from the backcourt and kept errors to a minimum.
Her ability to take the shuttle early and vary pace repeatedly put Rawat on the defensive, allowing Shruti to close out the match with authority.
Parul Choudhary’s victory, however, came after a far more demanding battle. Facing the ninth seed, Parul had to dig deep after losing the opening game 18-21. She responded with a measured change in approach, tightening her defence and extending rallies to draw errors from her opponent. The shift paid off as Parul edged the second game 21-18 before dominating the decider 21-12. The three-game win not only highlighted her physical conditioning but also her mental resilience, an attribute that often proves decisive in the latter stages of national championships.
Another standout performance came from Tanvi Patri, who continued to underline her promise by knocking out eighth seed Isharani Baruah. Tanvi showed composure beyond her years in a closely contested encounter, winning 22-20, 21-19. Both games hinged on key moments late on, where Tanvi held her nerve, constructed points patiently and capitalised on half-chances. The result further strengthens her growing reputation as one of the younger players capable of challenging the established names on the national stage.
While the upsets grabbed attention, the top seeds ensured there were no further surprises in the women’s singles. Top seed Unnati Hooda progressed as expected, as did second seed Anupama Upadhyaya and third seed Anmol Kharb, all three navigating their matches without undue trouble. World junior championships silver medallist Tanvi Sharma also advanced, continuing her steady transition from junior success to consistent performances at the senior level.
Read Articles Without Ads On Your IndiaSportsHub App. Download Now And Stay Updated
The presence of both seasoned internationals and junior standouts in the latter stages points to a healthy competitive balance in Indian women’s badminton.
The men’s singles draw also delivered its share of drama, led by Aryaman Tandon, who produced a strong comeback to upset third seed M Raghu in the round of 32. After dropping the opening game 17-21, Aryaman raised his intensity significantly, dominating the second game 21-11 before sealing the contest 21-14. His ability to wrest back momentum and maintain pressure through the decisive stages was a clear highlight of the day.
Further upsets followed as Abhinav Garg and Rithvik Sanjeevi S joined Aryaman in the pre-quarterfinals. Garg accounted for 10th seed Abhinav Thakur with a solid 21-19, 21-16 win, marked by sharp net play and effective shot selection. Rithvik, meanwhile, overcame 13th seed Orijit Chaliha 21-15, 21-19, showing impressive consistency and control across both games to deny his higher-ranked opponent any sustained momentum.
Read Articles Without Ads On Your IndiaSportsHub App. Download Now And Stay Updated
In mixed doubles, the pairing of Nitin Kumar and Kanika Kanwal delivered one of the day’s most eye-catching results by upsetting sixth seeds Kevin Wong CC and Pranavi N. The 23-21, 21-15 victory was built on strong coordination and timely aggression, particularly in the opening game where Nitin and Kanika held firm under pressure to clinch a tight finish.
As the championships move into the pre-quarterfinal phase, the results so far underline the competitive depth of Indian badminton. With experienced players rediscovering form and younger athletes making confident strides, the Senior Nationals in Vijayawada have already delivered a reminder that rankings alone offer no guarantees. The coming rounds promise further high-quality contests as the battle for national supremacy intensifies.
