Guwahati – In a burst of excitement at the National Centre of Excellence, India pushed high‑ranked opponents into the back‑court at the BWF World Junior Championships 2025.
Gnana Dattu, the 17‑year‑old making his world junior debut, handed 8th‑seeded Garret Tan of the United States a shock loss in boys’ singles. Dattu wrapped up the match 15‑12, 15‑13, using sharp flicks and flat pushes to stay one step ahead. After a close first game, he claimed the next two by dropping quick, shallow shots and keeping his nerves tight.
In mixed doubles, Bhavya Chhabra and Vishakha Toppo rattled the third‑seeded French pair Thibault Gardon and Agathe Cuevas. After a 12‑15 first game, the Indian duo switched tactics, attacking aggressively from the better side of the court. Their relentless pressure turned the tide, and they won 15‑11, 15‑12 to punch a quarter‑final berth.
Girls’ singles saw top seed Tanvi Sharma tear through China’s Sun Li Yuan 15‑8, 15‑5. Eighth‑seeded Unnati Hooda, who stumbled at the start, bounced back to beat Malaysia’s Carine Tee 15‑10, 15‑7. Both will face tougher challenges in the quarter‑finals – Tanvi against Japan’s Saki Matsumoto and Unnati against second seed Anyapat Phichitpreechasak of Thailand.
“Even though Garret has more experience, I believed in playing my best and that paid off,” Dattu said after his win.
Bhavya reflected on the mixed‑doubles win: “The coach told us to attack more and play softer at the net when we were down. We listened, found the winners, and the points piled up.”
Their next match is against Chinese Taipei’s Hung Bing Fu and Chou Yun An, who won their preliminary game 15‑9, 15‑11. With the Indian players showing both skill and strategic growth, the future looks bright as the tournament pushes into the next round.
Source: ianslive
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