India made a significant impact at the BWF World Junior Championships 2025, held at the Centre of Excellence in Amingaon, Guwahati, on Thursday. In the boys’ singles category, Gnana Dattu and the mixed doubles team of Bhavya Chhabra and Vishakha Toppo delivered standout performances by defeating higher-ranked opponents to advance to the quarterfinals. Additionally, in the girls’ singles, emerging talents Tanvi Sharma and Unnati Hooda showcased their skills with dominant victories.
Gnana Dattu, making his debut at the World Junior Championships, secured a remarkable win against eighth seed Garret Tan of the USA, triumphing with scores of 15-12 and 15-13. Meanwhile, the mixed duo of Bhavya and Vishakha rallied after dropping the first game to beat the third-seeded French pair of Thibault Gardon and Agathe Cuevas 12-15, 15-11, 15-12, earning their spot in the quarterfinals.
In the girls’ singles, top seed Tanvi exhibited her prowess by overpowering China’s Sun Li Yuan with a decisive 15-8, 15-5 victory, while eighth seed Unnati, after a shaky start, came back to win against Malaysia’s Carine Tee with scores of 15-10 and 15-7. Tanvi is set to face Japan’s Saki Matsumoto in the quarterfinals, while Unnati will battle second seed Anyapat Phichitpreechasak from Thailand.
Dattu’s performance was particularly impressive against a seasoned opponent. He skillfully executed flicks and flat pushes, maintaining his composure under pressure to outmaneuver Tan. Both players initially focused on minimizing errors, but it was Dattu who seized the initiative at 8-8. Adjusting to the match conditions and his opponent’s strategies, the 17-year-old created scoring opportunities with deft slow drops and sharp dribbles, ultimately closing out the match despite some tension. In the second game, although Tan saved three match points while trailing at 10-14, Dattu held steady to secure his quarterfinal berth on the fourth match point.
On an adjacent court, Bhavya and Vishakha perfectly executed their game plan to upset the third seeds from France. After losing the first game with relative ease, they adopted a more aggressive strategy in the second game. The deciding game turned into a nerve-wracking contest; the French team initially held an 11-8 lead. However, the Indian pair altered their tactics to counter their opponents’ aggression, resulting in six consecutive points to take control of the match.
Post-match, Bhavya reflected on their strategy, stating, “While trailing at 8-11, the coach told us to attack more and play softly at the net for better attacking opportunities. We listened to him, and it was easier to attack from this side.” Bhavya and Vishakha now face the challenge of competing against Chinese Taipei’s Hung Bing Fu and Chou Yun An, who secured their pre-quarterfinal victory against Korea’s Kim Tae Hyun and Moon In Seo with scores of 15-9 and 15-11.
As for other Indian results, in men’s singles, Dattu defeated Garret Tan, while in women’s singles, Tanvi Sharma triumphed over Li Yuan Sun from China, and Unnati Hooda beat Carine Tee from Malaysia. However, Rakshitha Sree fell short against Sri Lanka’s Ranithma Liyanage. In women’s doubles, Vennala K and Reshika U were defeated by Indonesia’s Salsabila Aulia and Jania Situmorang. In mixed doubles, Bhavya Chhabra and Vishakha Toppo advanced by overcoming the French duo of Gardon and Cuevas.
Original Source: https://www.sentinelassam.com/sports-news/bwf-jr-worlds-gnana-bhavya-vishakha-upset-higher-seeds-to-reach-quarters-tanvi-unnati-also-advance
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Publish Date: 2025-10-17 11:59:00
