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This was India’s first-ever medal in the BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships.
The Indian badminton team settled for the bronze medal after losing to defending champions Indonesia in the semi-finals of the BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships 2025 on Friday.
This was India’s first-ever medal in the BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships.
Competing at the National Centre of Excellence in Guwahati, India lost the tie 45-35, 45-21.
India made just one change to the squad that beat the Republic of Korea on Thursday by bringing in Vishakha Toppo for Aanya Bisht in the mixed doubles and once again started the tie in the boys doubles category.
The top Indian doubles combination of Bhargav Ram Arigela and Viswa Tej Gobburu gave them a perfect start as they beat Indonesia’s Muhmmad Rizki Mubarrok and Raihan Daffa Pramono 9-5.
Unnati Hooda wasn’t at her best in the girls singles tie against Thalita Wiryawan in the first set, but did enough to keep India’s nose ahead at 18-16.
It was Indonesia’s world junior No.1 boys singles player Mohd Ubaidillah who turned things around for his team as he beat Rounak Chouhan 11-5 to hand his team a four-point advantage.
The mixed doubles combination of Lalramsanga and Vishakha Toppo did raise hopes of a fightback for India as they first drew level at 28-28 and even 9-3. However, the Indonesian combination of Ikhsan Pramudya and Rinjani Nastine raised their level at the break and closed the match with 10-9 to wrest back the initiative.
Nastine then teamed up with Riska Anggraini to beat Reshika U and Vennala K 9-2 to wrap up the set 45-35.
Indonesia then took control of the second set from the very first point with Mubarrok and Pramono beating the Indian boys’ combination 9-2.
With Unnati going down 9-7 against Wiryawan and Rounak losing 9-7 against Ubaidillah, it was too big an ask for the doubles combinations to close the gap as India finished with bronze at the BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships 2025.
Indian players will now prepare for the individual championship that will begin on Monday.
