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Guwahati: India scripted history by assuring their first-ever mixed team medal at the BWF World Junior Championships after a thrilling 44-45, 45-30, 45-33 win over Korea in the quarterfinals at the National Centre of Excellence on Thursday.
Cheered on by a loud home crowd, India recovered from a heartbreaking first-set loss to clinch the next two sets in a match that lasted nearly three hours. With this win, India advanced to the semifinals where they will face defending Asian U-19 champions Indonesia, who beat Chinese Taipei 45-35, 45-35.
India relied on their singles strength after early setbacks in doubles. Unnati Hooda, who narrowly missed winning the opening set, bounced back strongly in the decider to seal India’s historic victory. Strategic substitutions by coach Ivan Sozonov also proved crucial, as Lalramsanga and Bhargav Ram’s partnership helped India gain early momentum in the later sets.
Badminton Association of India (BAI) secretary general Sanjay Mishra praised the team’s performance, saying, “The players had been preparing at this venue for months, and we were confident of a medal. Everyone stood up when it mattered, and I believe they can reach the final.”
