Arjun Reddy Stuns UAE’s Adithya Kiran in Indian Junior International GP Thriller

India's Arjun Reddy Aluguvelli produced a major upset at the Indian Junior International Grand Prix, defeating eighth-seeded Adithya Kiran of the UAE in a gripping three-game contest on Tuesday.

Arjun held his nerve in a match that went down to the wire, winning 21-18, 19-21, 21-19. After taking the opening game, the Indian shuttler saw Adithya fight back to level the contest, setting up a tense decider. But Arjun stayed composed in the crucial moments to complete an impressive victory.

The tournament also witnessed another hard-fought battle as second-seeded Jagsher Singh Khangurra was pushed all the way by Neeraj Nair PS. Neeraj won the opening game 22-20, but Jagsher responded strongly to take the next two games 21-8, 21-15 and secure his place in the next round.

Vaibhav Singh too had to survive a stern challenge from compatriot Vernan Mahanta in another three-game encounter. Vaibhav made a dominant start by winning the first game 21-10, before Mahanta bounced back to claim the second 22-20.

With the match heading into a deciding game, Vaibhav regained his composure and held his nerve in a close finish, eventually prevailing 21-19.

Arjun's victory, however, stood out as the biggest result of the day, with his win over a seeded opponent adding an early dose of excitement to the tournament in Pune. The closely fought matches also underlined the depth of competition at the Indian Junior International GP, where even the favourites are being made to fight hard for every point.