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Lakshya Rajesh Stuns Top Seed as Five Indian Teens Reach Badminton Semis

India's young badminton stars are making waves at the Asian Championships in Chengdu. Five talented shuttlers have stormed into the semifinals across different categories. The standout performance came from Lakshya Rajesh, who pulled off a stunning upset against the top seed from Thailand. This impressive showing guarantees multiple medals for India in one of their most successful campaigns in recent years.

Key Points: Five Indian Shuttlers Reach Badminton Asia U-17 U-15 Semifinals

  • Lakshya Rajesh defeated Thailand's top seed Lalita Sattayathadakoon in thrilling three-game encounter
  • Diksha Sudhakar dominated Indonesia's Raisya Affatunisa with commanding 21-17, 21-8 victory
  • Jagsher Singh Khangurra continued winning streak with confident win over Hong Kong opponent
  • Mixed doubles pair Jangjeet Singh and Jananika Ramesh advanced after Chinese opponents retired
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Lakshya Rajesh stuns top seed as five Indians enter semis at Badminton Asia U-17 & U-15 Championships

Lakshya Rajesh leads India's charge with stunning upset over top seed as five young shuttlers secure medals at Badminton Asia U-17 & U-15 Championships in Chengdu.

"After losing the first game 11-21, Lakshya showed remarkable grit and composure to turn the match around - IANS"

Chengdu, Oct 25

India’s impressive run at the Badminton Asia U-17 & U-15 Championships in Chengdu gathered momentum on Saturday, with five young shuttlers storming into the semifinals and guaranteeing medals for the country.

Chengdu, Oct 25 (IANS) India’s impressive run at the Badminton Asia U-17 & U-15 Championships in Chengdu gathered momentum on Saturday, with five young shuttlers storming into the semifinals and guaranteeing medals for the country. The standout performance came from Lakshya Rajesh, who scripted one of the biggest upsets of the tournament by defeating top seed Lalita Sattayathadakoon of Thailand in a thrilling three-game encounter. After losing the first game 11-21, Lakshya showed remarkable grit and composure to turn the match around, clinching the next two games 21-16, 21-19 to book her place in the U-17 girls’ singles semifinals.

Her victory was the perfect highlight to a dominant day for the Indian contingent, which saw success across singles and doubles events. Sixth seed Diksha Sudhakar maintained her consistent form, brushing aside Indonesia’s Raisya Affatunisa 21-17, 21-8 in a commanding display that underlined her growing stature in the competition.

In the boys’ singles category, Jagsher Singh Khangurra continued his winning momentum, registering a confident 21-13, 21-14 win over Hong Kong China’s Zhan Shing Yui to reach the U-17 semifinals. His precise shot selection and calm under pressure ensured another medal for India.

India’s strong showing extended to the doubles draws as well. The U-17 mixed doubles pair of Jangjeet Singh Kajla and Jananika Ramesh advanced to the semifinals after their Chinese opponents were forced to retire mid-match. Their progress ensured India a presence across multiple categories heading into the final two days of competition.

Meanwhile, in the U-15 girls’ singles, top seed Shaina Manimuth justified her billing with a polished 21-14, 21-16 win over Japan’s Yubuki Azumaya, sealing her place in the last four without dropping a game.

With five Indian semifinalists across both age groups, this has become one of India’s most successful campaigns in recent editions of the continental tournament. The young shuttlers will now look to build on their momentum and turn their confirmed medals into gold as the championships enter their decisive phase in Chengdu.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Five semifinalists! This is fantastic news for Indian badminton. The future looks bright with such talented youngsters coming through the ranks. 🏸
S
Sarah B
Impressive performance across both age groups. Shaina Manimuth living up to her top seed status and Diksha Sudhakar's commanding win shows the depth of talent we're developing.
A
Aditya G
While the results are excellent, I hope BAI provides continuous support to these young players. We've seen many promising juniors fade away due to lack of proper guidance and infrastructure.
M
Meera T
Jagsher Singh's calm under pressure and precise shots remind me of Sindhu's game. These kids are learning from the best! Can't wait to see them in senior tournaments soon.
D
David E
Great to see Indian badminton performing so well at the continental level. The mixed doubles pair advancing due to retirement was lucky, but they still made it to semis! All the best for gold medals! 🥇

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