On the opening day of the BWF World Junior Championships 2025 at the National Centre of Excellence in Guwahati, India kicked off their mixed‑team campaign with a crisp 45‑18, 45‑17 win over Nepal.
Sri Lanka staged a dramatic comeback to beat the United Arab Emirates 30‑45, 45‑34, 45‑44 in a tense Group H match.
The tournament uses a new best‑of‑three relay‑scoring format: each of the five matches plays to 9 points, with the first team to reach 45 points in a set winning that set. Teams may change players between sets, giving many athletes a chance to play.
India, seeded second, used the substitution rule to let a broad group of players compete. The boys’ doubles pair of Bhargav Ram Arigela and Viswa Tej Gobburu opened the tie with a 9‑3 win, and singles stars Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma kept the pressure high for Nepal. In the girls’ doubles and other singles matches, India stayed comfortable throughout the first two sets.
Unnati Hooda, a bronze medalist at the Asian U‑19 championships, said the new format forced her to adjust her warm‑up. “In a 21‑point game I usually take my time, but now we have to be ready from the first point, so I spend more time on the court during warm‑up,” she explained.
Other top badminton nations began their campaigns without trouble. China swept Ghana 45‑14, 45‑10; South Korea beat Hungary 45‑22, 45‑29; Chinese Taipei defeated Brazil 45‑24, 45‑19; and Indonesia edged the Philippines 45‑27, 45‑40.
The Sri Lanka vs UAE tie was the highlight of the day. After losing the opening set 30‑45, Sri Lanka took advantage of UAE’s last‑minute change in the boys’ singles lineup. Keneth Aruggoda, after losing 4‑9, won the second match 9‑6, setting up momentum that pushed the tie to a decider. In the final girls’ doubles match, UAE finally needed 15 points to win but could only manage 14, sealing the 45‑44 victory for Sri Lanka.
India now faces Sri Lanka in their second group match on Tuesday, followed by a game against the UAE on Wednesday. The tournament continues to showcase rising badminton talent across Asia in a fast‑paced, eye‑catching format that keeps fans on the edge of their seats.
Source: ianslive
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