YATSUSHIRO
The Indian junior badminton team has successfully booked their spot in the quarterfinals of the Badminton Asia Junior Mixed Team Championships. In their opening Group C match held in Japan, the Indian squad delivered a powerful performance to defeat Kazakhstan with a commanding 2-0 score line.
India dominated the tie, winning the two sets with scores of 55-31 and 55-21. The relay-format tournament requires teams to race to 110 points to clinch the victory, and India showed great form early on. The girls’ doubles pair of Durga Esha Kandrapu and Keerthy Manchala provided the perfect spark, securing an 11-5 lead. While the mixed doubles pair of Puneeth Suresh and Deepti Raj Aditi faced a tougher battle against their Kazakh opponents, they held their nerve to win 11-10, setting a strong foundation for the rest of the team.
The second set proved to be a one-sided affair, with the Indian players showcasing superior technical skills and composure, conceding no more than six points in any match.
This victory comes as a major boost for India, who are aiming to improve on their bronze-medal performance from the previous edition. With a 19-member squad led by stars Tanvi Patri and Abhinav Garg, the team now turns its attention to a crucial group stage showdown against Chinese Taipei to determine the final group standings. The team is determined to keep this winning momentum alive as they advance toward the knockout stages.
