Indian Contingent Set to Compete in Badminton Asia Junior Championships 2023
An 18-member Indian team is gearing up to participate in the highly anticipated Badminton Asia Junior Championships 2023, scheduled to take place in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, from July 7 to 16. This 23rd edition of the continental championships, featuring under-19 players, marks its return after a four-year hiatus, and all matches will be live-streamed for fans worldwide.
The prestigious badminton tournament encompasses both individual and mixed team events. The mixed team matches are set to commence from July 7 to 11, while the individual competitions will take place between July 12 and 16.
For the mixed team event, the 14 participating teams have been divided into four groups. India finds itself placed in Group C, alongside Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Hong Kong. The other groupings include China, Indonesia, and Vietnam in Group A, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, and the Philippines in Group B, and Thailand, UAE, and the Republic of Korea in Group D.
The group stage of the mixed team event will follow a single-legged round-robin format, with each team entering players in five categories: boys’ doubles, girls’ singles, boys’ singles, girls’ doubles, and mixed doubles. Every tie will be a best-of-five affair.
The top two teams from each group will progress to the knockout round, leading up to the highly anticipated final on July 11.
Simultaneously, the individual events will feature players from 17 nations competing in all five categories. Ayush Shetty and Tara Sha will spearhead India’s campaign in the boys’ and girls’ singles events, respectively, with Lakshya Sharma and Rakshitha Sree S also eyeing podium finishes.
India has enjoyed success in the Badminton Asia Junior Championships, having secured two gold medals, one silver, and six bronze in previous editions. Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu made history as the first Indian badminton player to claim a gold medal at the continental event, triumphing in the girls’ singles category in 2012. Lakshya Sen followed suit, clinching the boys’ singles crown in 2018.
As the Indian contingent prepares to take on tough competition at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships 2023, they aim to add to their medal tally and showcase the country’s growing prowess in the sport.