Host India is poised for a landmark performance in the BWF World Junior Badminton Championships, returning to the country after a 17-year hiatus. With a mix of seasoned campaigners and rising stars, the Indian contingent eyes both team and individual medals at the National Centre of Excellence from October 6 to 19.
The championships, staged in two phases, will first feature 36 nations contesting the Suhandinata Cup in the mixed team event, followed by the Eye-Level Cup for individual competitions. India has historically claimed 11 individual medals, with its best showing in Pune in 2008, securing a gold and bronze. The current squad, however, carries the potential to surpass that tally and clinch a mixed team medal, aided by its second-seeded status.
Grouped with UAE, Sri Lanka, and Nepal in Group H, India are favourites to top the pool and advance in the newly introduced best-of-three set relay-scoring format, where each set is a race to 45 points. The opening match against Nepal on Monday will be followed by clashes with Sri Lanka on Tuesday and the UAE on Wednesday. Knockout fixtures could pit India against former champions South Korea, who are expected to lead Group G.
“We have been performing quite well in the junior events over the last few years, with BAI giving enough exposure to the players as part of the preparation for the World Junior Championships in Guwahati. We are once again expecting multiple medals this time around as most of the team members have been training at this very venue for the last year or so,” said General Secretary, Sanjay Mishra, in a press release.
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India’s medal hopes in individual events are anchored on the girls’ singles, featuring junior world number one Tanvi Sharma, Asian U-19 bronze medallist Vennala K, China Open quarterfinalist Unnati Hooda, and Rakshitha Sree. “All four of our girls' singles players are medal contenders and can even win the gold medal. Even our boys can beat any opponent on their day, and I am confident that they will excel in home conditions,” said foreign singles coach Park Tae-Sang.
In boys’ singles, Rounak Chohan, ranked junior world no 14, and 17-year-old Gnana Dattu TT carry India’s hopes. In paired events, Bhargav Ram Arigela and Viswa Tej Gobburu, previously ranked world number one in boys’ doubles, offer India a chance at its first-ever medal in these categories. “I am aware that India has never won a medal in the paired events before this, but this time we have a formidable lineup. These players have been playing regularly on the circuit, and that experience of training at this venue should have helped them a lot,” said Russian doubles specialist coach Ivan Sozonov.
Other contenders for medals include traditional badminton powerhouses such as China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and holders Indonesia, the latter fresh from an Asian Mixed Team title victory earlier this year. India will look to leverage home conditions, experienced players, and recent form to write a historic chapter in its World Junior Championships journey.
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