Tanvi, Unnati, Rakshitha make pre-quarterfinals in Guwahati

India’s young shuttlers made a strong statement at the BWF World Junior Championships on Wednesday, as Tanvi Sharma, Unnati Hooda, and Rakshitha Sree Ramraj advanced to the pre-quarterfinals, keeping India’s hopes alive for medals.

Top seed Tanvi Sharma, junior world No.1, overcame Indonesia’s Oei Winarto 15-12, 15-7 in a match that tested her composure. Tanvi built an early 9-4 lead in the first game but allowed her opponent to score eight consecutive points. Refocusing under her coach’s guidance, she sealed the first game and dominated the second, moving confidently into the next round. Tanvi will now face Chinese newcomer Li Yuan Sun, who upset ninth seed Liao Jui-Chi in straight games, for a place in the quarterfinals.

Eighth seed Unnati Hooda had a smooth outing against USA’s Alice Wang, winning 15-8, 15-5, while tenth seed Rakshitha Sree Ramraj battled back from a game down to defeat Singapore’s Aaliyah Zakaria 11-15, 15-5, 15-8. Rakshitha admitted that adjusting to the 15-point format and court conditions initially added pressure, but once she found her rhythm, she turned the match around to advance to the pre-quarterfinals. Her next challenge will be against Sri Lankan fourth seed Ranithma Liyanage, who defeated Malaysia’s Ler Qi Eng 15-9, 15-12.

In the boys’ singles, 17-year-old Gnana Dattu TT was the lone Indian advancing after overcoming a first-game loss to 15th seed Suryaksh Rawat 11-15, 15-6, 15-11 in an all-Indian clash. Despite struggling with a muscle pull before the tournament, Dattu found his rhythm to control the next two games and secure his spot in the pre-quarterfinals. Fellow Indian Rounak Chouhan lost a tight match against China’s Li Zhi Hang 11-15, 12-15, while Lalthazuala Hmar was defeated by UAE’s Riyan Malhan 13-15, 6-15.

India also made progress in mixed doubles, with the 14th-seeded pair Bhavya Chhabra and Vishakha Toppo edging past Denmark’s Aske Romer and Jasmin Willis 15-13, 15-11, showcasing their fighting spirit. Another pair, C Lalramsanga and Taarini Suri, fell to Japan’s Shuji Sawada and Aoi Banno 10-15, 6-15.

The Indian contingent comprises 25 players, and girls’ singles remain India’s strongest medal hope. With a rich history of 11 individual medals at the World Junior Championships, the young shuttlers are determined to continue India’s legacy on the global stage.

Boys’ singles: Gnana Dattu TT bt Suryaksh Rawat 11-15, 15-6, 15-11; Rounak Chouhan lost to Li Zhi Hang 11-15, 12-15; Lalthazuala Hmar lost to Riyan Malhan 13-15, 6-15 Girls’ singles: Tanvi Sharma bt Oei Winarto 15-12, 15-7; Unnati Hooda bt Alice Wang 15-8, 15-5; Rakshitha Sree bt Aaliyah Zakaria 11-15, 15-5, 15-8 Mixed doubles: Bhavya Chhabra/Vishakha Toppo bt Aske Romer/Jasmin Willis 15-13, 15-11; C Lalramsanga/Taarini Suri lost to Shuji Sawada/Aoi Banno 10-15, 6-15