The Yonex-Sunrise All India Sub-Junior Ranking Badminton tournament kicked off with great enthusiasm at Jaipur's iconic Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Wednesday, marking a significant event in the national junior badminton calendar. The opening day saw a blend of triumphs and challenges for local talent, as thirteen shuttlers from Rajasthan successfully navigated their way into the second round, showcasing the state's growing prowess in the sport.
Mixed Fortunes for Rajasthan Contingent
While the day brought joy for many, it was not without its setbacks. Eighteen players from Rajasthan faced elimination in the qualifying matches, highlighting the competitive intensity of the tournament. However, the successes outweighed the disappointments, with several young athletes delivering impressive performances that have set the stage for an exciting competition ahead.
Standout Performances in Under-15 and Under-17 Categories
Utkarsh Singh Rathod emerged as a double delight for Rajasthan, securing his spot in the second round of both the Under-15 and Under-17 boys' singles events. In the U-15 category, he displayed dominance with a commanding 15-5, 15-11 victory over Rakshan Rajan of Tamil Nadu. His journey in the U-17 section was eased by a walkover from Karthikeya of Telangana, allowing him to conserve energy for the challenges ahead.
Other notable victories in the U-15 boys' singles included:
- Pranav Mulchandani's solid 15-11, 15-10 win against Aarav of Haryana
- Mahadev Sharma's hard-fought 15-11, 16-14 triumph over Aryan Bamb of Madhya Pradesh
- Aditya Narayan's remarkable comeback from a set down to defeat Advik Shukla of Telangana 9-15, 15-9, 15-12
- Arya Pratap's resilient performance to overcome P Arun Kumar of Tamil Nadu 13-15, 15-8, 15-5
- Nishit Agarwal's straightforward 15-11, 15-10 victory against Daksh of Madhya Pradesh
Success in Higher Age Groups
The Under-17 categories also witnessed strong showings from Rajasthan's representatives. Jatin delivered a dominant performance, thrashing Shivansh from Uttarakhand 15-4, 15-4. Meanwhile, Pearl Pareek showcased her skills with a convincing 15-12, 15-11 win over Vishwa Darji from Gujarat.
In the U-17 girls' singles, Aradhya Dhingra made light work of Aashi Gautam from Delhi with a 15-6, 15-9 victory. Riddhi Sethia demonstrated exceptional resilience, recovering from a first-set loss to defeat Ayna Mishra from Delhi 11-15, 15-13, 15-5 in a thrilling three-game encounter.
National Talent on Display
The tournament has attracted young badminton talent from across India, with several other players making their mark on the opening day. In the Under-17 Boys category, notable advancements included Pushkar Girdhar of Madhya Pradesh, Hesan Haris of Karnataka, Prithviraj Singh of Delhi, Krishna Setia of Telangana, Daksh of Haryana, Nikhil Jaikumar of Tamil Nadu, Nilabh of West Bengal, Srihari Binse of Kerala, Rehan of Andhra Pradesh, and Chirashyamal Boruah of Assam.
The U-15 boys' singles saw Gaurav S from Karnataka, Darsh Joshi from Gujarat, Karan Kushal from Haryana, Krishang Choudhary from Assam, and Rehan from Andhra Pradesh secure their places in the second round.
Among the U-17 girls, Dhanya from Andhra Pradesh, Yuvashree from Tamil Nadu, Anvesha from Uttarakhand, Varunda Ramesh from Telangana, Sakshi Rana from Delhi, Karya Raina from Maharashtra, Supruti from Karnataka, Meghan from Uttar Pradesh, and Neha S from Tamil Nadu all emerged victorious in their first-round matches.
Tournament Schedule and Scale
According to Chief Referee Milind Deshmukh of Maharashtra, the competition is set to intensify with approximately 500 matches scheduled for Thursday, beginning at 9 am. This massive schedule underscores the tournament's significance as a premier platform for identifying and nurturing badminton talent at the sub-junior level across India.
The Yonex-Sunrise All India Sub-Junior Ranking Badminton tournament continues to serve as a crucial stepping stone for young athletes aspiring to make their mark in national and international badminton. With Rajasthan players making a strong start, all eyes will be on their performance as the competition progresses through its subsequent rounds.
