World Junior C'ships: Indian shuttlers aim for individual glory after historic mixed team bronze

Guwahati, Oct 12 (PTI) Riding high on their historic bronze medal finish in the mixed team event, the Indian contingent will look to carry that momentum into the individual competitions of the BWF World Junior Championships that begin here on Monday.

India's best performance in the tournament came 17 years ago in Pune when Saina Nehwal grabbed the girls' singles gold while RMV Guru Sai Dutt clinched the bronze medal in boys' singles.

So far, India has won a total of 11 individual medals in the history of the competition, including four silver.

India's best chance to add another gold medal to their tally in this edition is the girls' singles with junior world number one Tanvi Sharma and China Open quarterfinalist Unnati Hooda.

Both players have been placed in different halves of the draw, raising hopes of a possible all-Indian final.

Tanvi, the Asian U-19 bronze medallist, has a bye in the opening round and a potential quarterfinal clash against Indonesian seventh seed Thalita Wiryawan could be her first big test in the campaign.

Meanwhile, Unnati, seeded eighth, is likely to kick off her campaign in the second round against Hong Kong's Liu Hoi Kiu Anna and a potential last eight clash against second seed Anyapat Phichitpreechasak of Thailand.

India's other Asian U-19 bronze medallist Vennala K and world number 41 Rakshita Sree have been placed in the same quarter but would have to come through a few tough matches to stand a chance of reaching the last four stage.

Rakshita may face fourth seed Ranithma Liyanage of Sri Lanka in the pre-quarters, while Vennala will have to overcome Liu Si Ya of China at the same stage.

The boys singles contenders will have a tougher road to the medal rounds with Lalthazuala Hmar likely to face world junior number one and top seed Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah of Indonesia in round of 32.

While 11th seed Rounak Chouhan faces a tricky test against China’s Li Zhi Hang at the same stage.

Meanwhile, compatriots Gnana Dattu TT and 15th seed Suryaksh Rawat are likely to clash against each other in the third round.

In the paired events, the former junior world number one boys' doubles combination of Bhargav Ram Arigela and Viswa Tej Gobburu will open their campaign against Andrej Macek and Andrej Suchy of Slovenia.

The sixth-seeded Indian pairing is likely to face reigning Asian Junior Champions Chen Jun Ting and Liu Jun Rong of China in the last eight stage.

Meanwhile, Bhavya Chhabra and Sumith A R open their campaign against Philip Kryger Boe, nephew of former Danish doubles specialist Mathias Boe, and his partner Salomon Thomasen in the round of 64.

Vishnu Kode and Mithileish P Krishnan have a tough encounter against the seventh-seeded French duo Thibault Gardon and Mady Sow at the same stage of competition. PTI APA AT AT