Unnati Hooda in action.
| Photo Credit: RITU RAJ KONWAR
Among the Indian players, Tanvi Sharma made the smoothest transition from the relay system of the mixed team competition to the shortened best-of-three games format for the individual leg of the World junior badminton championships on Tuesday.
The 16-year-old Tanvi, well-rested as she last played on Wednesday in India’s final group-stage fixture of the Suhandinata Cup against the UAE, took just 11 minutes to brush aside Poland’s Wiktoria Kaletka 15-2, 15-1 at the National Centre of Excellence.
The top-seeded Indian, awarded a first-round bye, will take on Indonesia’s Oei Louisa Jovanka Sandi Winarto for a place in the pre-quarterfinals.
Eighth seed Unnati Hooda and 10th seed Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj also joined Tanvi with wins but Vennala Kalagotla’s singles campaign ended with a 6-15, 5-15 loss to fifth seed Thai Tonrug Saeheng.
“For the last three weeks, I was mostly practising for doubles. I felt I lagged in terms of movement. Since it was just 15 points per game, it finished before I could even realise,” said the 17-year-old, who moved to third round in doubles with partner Reshika Uthayasooriyan courtesy a walkover from their Polish opponents.
All four Indian boys — Rounak Chouhan, H. Lalthazuala, Suryaksh Rawat and Tankara Gnana Dattu Talasila — progressed to the next stage with Rawat and Gnana Dattu setting up an all-Indian clash.
India’s hopes of a first-ever medal in doubles took a hit as two duos each in mixed and boys’ events were shown the door.
Important results (second round, Indians Only): Girls’ Singles: Unnati Hooda bt Liu Hoi Kiu Anna (HKG) 15-8, 15-9; Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj bt Lucy Yang (Can) 15-5, 15-9.
Boys’ singles: Rounak Chouhan bt Thisath Rupathunga (SL) 15-3, 15-6; Suryaksh Rawat bt Yigitcan Erol (Tur) 15-5, 15-8; H. Lalthazuala bt Rylan Tan (USA) 15-11, 15-5; Tankara Gnana Dattu Talasila bt Joaquim Mendonca (Bra) 15-10, 15-13.
Mixed doubles: Bhavya Chhabra & Vishakha Toppo bt Ghian Rizqy Sofyan & Salsabila Zahra Aulia (Ina) 15-4, 13-15, 15-5; C. Lalramsanga & Taarini Suri bt Ralph Nino Dalojo & Andrea Princess Hernandez (Phi) 15-12, 15-5.
Boys’ doubles: Bhargav Ram Arigela & Viswa Tej Gobburu bt Andrej Macek & Andrej Suchy (Svk) 15-7, 15-6.
Girls’ doubles: Aanya Bisht & Angel Punera bt Wiktoria Kaletka & Olga Szwarnowiecka (Pol) 15-12, 15-11; Gayatri Rawat & Mansa Rawat bt Alya Elghandour & Fatema Rabie (Egy) 15-3, 15-5.
Published – October 14, 2025 08:50 pm IST
