India clinched a historic bronze medal at the BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships on Friday, falling 35-45, 21-45 to defending champions Indonesia in a spirited semifinal clash at the Assam Badminton Arena. The hosts, buoyed by their first-ever medal in the mixed-team event after defeating former champions Korea on Thursday, showcased resilience but couldn’t topple the pre-tournament favourites. Indonesia now advances to face the winner of China versus Japan in the final, while India shifts focus to the individual championships starting Monday, aiming to build on this milestone in a sport where they rank among the top global contenders.
India tweaked their lineup from the Korea win, substituting Vishakha Toppo for Aanya Bisht in mixed doubles and leading with boys’ doubles. Bhargav Ram Arigela and Viswa Tej Gobburu ignited hopes of an upset, outclassing Indonesia’s Muhammad Rizki Mubarrok and Raihan Daffa Pramono 9-5. Unnati Hooda, despite a shaky first set, edged Thalita Wiryawan 18-16 in girls’ singles, keeping India ahead 18-16.
However, Indonesia’s world junior No. 1, Mohd Ubaidillah, flipped the momentum, overpowering Rounak Chouhan 11-5 in boys’ singles. The mixed doubles pair of Lalramsanga and Toppo briefly levelled at 28-28 and led 9-3, but Indonesia’s Ikhsan Pramudya and Rinjani Nastine rallied to win 10-9, tilting the set. Nastine and Riska Anggraini then sealed the first set 45-35, dominating Reshika U. and Vennala K. 9-2.
Indonesia’s momentum carried into the second set, with Mubarrok and Pramono dispatching India’s boys’ doubles 9-2. Hooda and Chouhan fell 7-9 to Wiryawan and Ubaidillah, respectively, leaving India’s doubles pairs unable to bridge the gap, culminating in a 45-21 rout. Despite the loss, India’s campaign—securing their first mixed-team medal since the event’s inception in 2000—marks a breakthrough, fuelled by a young squad mentored by the Badminton Association of India (BAI). The team’s performance mirrors India’s rising badminton prowess, with stars like P.V. Sindhu and Lakshya Sen inspiring a new generation.
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Hosting the championships for the first time since 2008, Guwahati’s vibrant crowds amplified the stakes, with over 5,000 fans daily packing the arena, per BAI estimates. The bronze adds to India’s 11 medals in the competition’s history, though only one—a 2018 girls’ singles gold—came in individual events. As the squad, including standouts like Hooda and Arigela, prepares for Monday’s individual draws, expectations are high for further podium finishes. This milestone, coupled with India’s 2024 Thomas Cup triumph, signals a robust pipeline for a sport projected to grow 15% annually in participation, cementing India’s global badminton ascent.
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