Our Sports Reporter
GUWAHATI: India qualified for the quarter-final of the Yonex-Sunrise BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships 2025 for the Suhandinata Cup with yet another confident win against UAE at the National Centre of Excellence here on Wednesday. India, in their final group league match, defeated UAE 45-37, 45-34. In the quarter finals the host will now face Korea on Thursday.
In the other group Japan got the better of Thailand 45-42, 45-34 in Group A and USA made it to the last eight stage with 45-43, 45-43 win over France in Group B.
The top teams in all eight groups will compete in the quarterfinals for the coveted trophy, while the others will fight in the classification rounds. Other teams to top their respective groups include China (Group D) and Indonesia (Group F).
India, seeded second, had beaten Nepal and Sri Lanka in their earlier two Group H clashes and went into the final round as the only unbeaten team in the group. That confidence showed in the way they approached the match against UAE, who boast of having a few players who have played in the Indian domestic circuit in the past.
USA Open finalist Tanvi Sharma gave the team a rousing start as she defeated reigning Indian junior national champion Prakriti Bharath 9-5. The mixed doubles combination of C Lalramsanga and Vishakha Toppo then made it 18-10 against Adithya Kiran and Sakshi Kurbkhelgi.
UAE did put up a fight in the boys singles and boys doubles with Bharath Lateesh scoring 9 points against Hmar Lalthazuala and then teaming up with Riyan Malhan to score 10 points against Bhagav Ram Arigela and Viswa Tej Gobburu, but their efforts were not enough to close the gap.
In the second set, Unnati Hooda replaced Tanvi and Suryansh Rawat took the place of Hmar in the line up. Unnati beat Prakriti 9-6 to start the proceedings and there was no looking back for the Indian team from there on.
On the adjacent court, Japan grabbed the advantage against top seeds Thailand with Yuzuno Watanabe beating Anyapat Phichitpreechasak 9-5 in the first girls singles and the Asian Junior Mixed team championships bronze medallist rode that momentum to win the first set 45-42.
Watanabe gave her team a much bigger lead in the second set by beating Yataweemin Ketklieng 9-2 and the Japanese took the top spot in Group A with another clinical display.
But it was Team USA that had reasons to celebrate the most as they overcame a strong challenge from France. With the matches going neck-and-neck in both sets, it was USA boys singles player Garret Tan who kept his composure to beat France’s Mady Sow 9-8 in the first set and scored nine points quickly enough when under pressure in the second to help his team top Group B.
Results (Until session 2): Group A: Japan bt Thailand 2-0 (45-42, 45-34); Ireland bt Portugal 2-1 (45-40, 43-45, 45-37). Group B: USA bt France 2-0 (45-43, 45-43); Vietnam bt Egypt 2-0 (45-21, 45-18).Group D: China bt Turkey 2-0 (45-28, 45-24); England bt Uganda 2-0 (45-26, 45-16).Group E: Denmark bt Singapore 2-0 (45-33, 45-42); Brazil bt Netherlands 2-0 (45-38, 45-35). Group F: Indonesia bt Hong Kong 2-1 (44-45, 45-37, 45-23); Philippines bt Slovenia 2-0 (45-27, 45-28). Group G:Hungary bt Bhutan 2-0 (45-17, 45-10); Korea bt Romania 2-0 (45-22, 45-25). Group H: Sri Lanka bt Nepal 2-0 (45-21, 45-28); India bt UAE 2-0 (45-37, 45-34).
Fixtures - Quarter Finals
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Korea vs India (Court 1). Chinese Taipei vs Indonesia (Court 2). 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Malaysia vs China (Court 1), Japan vs USA (Court 2).
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