BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships 2025: India settles for bronze after Indonesia proves too strong in semifinal
Indonesia took the shine off India’s historic first-ever medal at the BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships as the defending champion beat the host 45-35, 45-21 in the semifinal in Guwahati on Friday.
After confirming at least a bronze courtesy a comeback win over two-time champion Korea in the quarterfinal, the Indian juniors could not be blamed for aiming higher and upsetting Indonesia.
The vociferous home crowd, sparse at best in capacity, backed India to the hilt, but on the court at the National Centre of Excellence, it was Indonesia making all the noise.
India needed Unnati Hooda to provide a considerable cushion from her singles matches to make up for Indonesia’s superiority in doubles. Once that didn’t materialise, it was always going to be a tall ask for the rest of the squad.
Bhargav Ram Arigela and Viswa Tej Gobburu bagged the opening boys’ doubles fixture 9-6. Hooda kept India 18-16 ahead in the first set after facing Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan in the battle between two of the world’s Top 10 juniors.
That two-point lead vanished in no time.
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Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah, the top-ranked male junior, dominated Rounak Chouhan with his movement and deft touches at the net.
Down 23-27, C. Lalramsanga and Vishakha Toppo fought back in mixed doubles to restore parity at 33-33. Lalramsanga, a talented doubles prospect from Mizoram, troubled Ikhsan Lintang Pramudya and Rinjani Kwinnara Nastine with his speed and court craft. However, that brief comeback turned out to be a flickering flame of hope which was soon extinguished as the visitors bossed the rest of the proceedings, conceding only 23 points in the next six matches.
Later in the day, fourteen-time champion China faces Japan in the second semifinal.
The individual championships will be held at the same venue from October 13 to 19.
Results:
Semifinal 1: Indonesia bt. India 45-35, 45-21
Set 1
Match 1 (Boys’ Doubles): Muhammad Rizki Mubarrok/Raihan Daffa Edsel Pramono 6-9 Bhargav Ram Arigela/Viswa Tej Gobburu
Match 2 (Girl’s Singles): Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan 16-18 Unnati Hooda
Match 3 (Boy’s Singles): Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah 27-23 Rounak Chouhan
Match 4 (Mixed Doubles): Ikhsan Lintang Pramudya/Rinjani Kwinnara Nastine 36-33 C Lalramsanga/Vishakha Toppo
Match 5 (Girls’ Doubles): Riska Anggraini/Rinjani Kwinnara Nastine 45-35 Vennala Kalagotla/Reshika Uthayasooriyan
Set 2
Match 1 (Boys’ Doubles): Raihan Daffa Edsel Pramono/Alexius Ongkytama Subagio 9-2 Bhargav Ram Arigela/Viswa Tej Gobburu
Match 2 (Girl’s Singles): Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan 18-8 Unnati Hooda
Match 3 (Boy’s Singles): Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah 27-15 Rounak Chouhan
Match 4 (Mixed Doubles): Ikhsan Lintang Pramudya/Rinjani Kwinnara Nastine 36-19 C Lalramsanga/Vishakha Toppo
Match 5 (Girls’ Doubles): Riska Anggraini/Rinjani Kwinnara Nastine 45-21 Aanya Bisht/Angel Punera
Published on Oct 10, 2025