The stage is set for the BWF World Junior Championships to return to India, and the excitement is palpable. After a historic first-ever medal in the mixed team competition at last week’s tournament, the attention now shifts to the individual event, which kicks off in Guwahati on Monday, October 14, 2025. With India hosting the prestigious championships for the first time since 2008, there is a sense of anticipation in the air. The spotlight will fall on a new generation of Indian badminton stars, particularly in the Girls’ Singles category, where the country is hoping to repeat the glory of Saina Nehwal’s gold 17 years ago.
The BWF World Junior Championships are an important stepping stone for young talents aiming to make their mark on the international stage. In 2008, Saina Nehwal secured a gold medal, setting the stage for India’s rise in world badminton. This year, Tanvi Sharma, the world No. 1 junior, and Unnati Hooda, a fast-rising star who has already made waves at the senior level, are two key names expected to carry India’s hopes in the Girls’ Singles event.
A Golden Opportunity to Follow Saina’s Footsteps
In the 17 years since India last hosted the tournament, Indian badminton has risen to global prominence, with athletes like PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth, and HS Prannoy taking the world by storm. However, the next generation is now tasked with continuing that legacy, and the Junior World Championships offer the perfect stage for them to prove their mettle.
India has won a total of 11 individual medals at the Junior Championships—eight in Boys’ Singles and three in Girls’ Singles. While Saina Nehwal’s gold remains the pinnacle, there has yet to be another gold in the Girls’ Singles category. This time around, both Tanvi Sharma and Unnati Hooda are primed to end that drought and take their place among India’s badminton royalty.
Tanvi Sharma: The Top Seed with High Hopes
At just 16 years old, Tanvi Sharma has already established herself as a force to be reckoned with in the world of junior badminton. As the top seed in the Girls’ Singles event, Sharma enters the competition with high expectations. She has a bye in the opening round and will likely face Indonesia’s Thalita Wiryawan, the seventh seed, in the quarterfinals. This will be a crucial test for the talented Sharma, who clinched a bronze at the Asian U-19 Championships earlier this year. Her goal will be to upgrade that medal and deliver a gold for India at the Junior World Championships.
Sharma’s current form and ranking have placed her as one of the favorites for the title, but the road to victory will not be easy. The Girls’ Singles draw is filled with talented competitors from across the world, and every match will demand peak performance. Yet, Tanvi’s confidence, discipline, and immense potential make her one of India’s best chances for a historic win.
Unnati Hooda: The Senior Sensation with Rising Star Potential
Unnati Hooda, who is seeded eighth, has already proven herself at the senior level, achieving impressive wins in major international events. Just this year, she achieved a stunning victory over PV Sindhu in the China Open Super 1000, which catapulted her into the spotlight. Unnati will start her campaign in the second round, where she is expected to face Hong Kong’s Liu Hoi Kiu Anna, followed by a potential encounter with Thailand’s Anyapat Phichitpreechasak in the quarterfinals.
Unnati, at 18 years old, has more experience than her counterpart, Tanvi Sharma, and that could give her the edge in pressure situations. With her fast footwork, sharp reflexes, and ability to handle high-pressure moments, she has the tools to make a deep run in the tournament. While she’s already a seasoned competitor at the senior level, the Junior World Championships will be another key milestone in her career. A potential all-Indian final between Unnati and Tanvi is not just a dream but a tantalizing possibility that excites fans and experts alike.
The Boys’ Singles: A Tougher Path to Glory
While India’s Boys’ Singles players have historically been strong contenders in the BWF Junior Championships, this year’s competition promises to be especially challenging. The boys’ event has traditionally been India’s most successful discipline, with multiple medals over the years. However, this year’s field includes tough opponents, especially from badminton powerhouses like Indonesia and China.
Lalthazuala Hmar, Rounak Chouhan, Gnana Dattu TT, and Suryaksh Rawat are the boys who will represent India in the U-19 Boys’ Singles event. The competition will be fierce as these players look to overcome the odds and secure a place on the podium. Lalthazuala is expected to face top seed Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah of Indonesia in the third round, while Rounak Chouhan will square off against Li Zhi Hang of China. The road to the semifinals and beyond will require these young men to play their best badminton and handle pressure with maturity.
Doubles: A Potential Breakthrough for India
Despite India’s strong performances in singles, the country has yet to win a medal in doubles at the BWF Junior World Championships. This year, India’s doubles teams will be aiming to break that drought and add a new dimension to the nation’s junior badminton success.
In the Boys’ Doubles event, the seventh-seeded pair of Bhargav Ram Arigela and Viswa Tej Gobburu will face stiff competition. The duo is poised to make a mark, having started against Andrej Macek and Andrej Suchy from Slovenia. Their eventual path could lead them to face the Asian Junior Champions from China, Chen Jun Ting and Liu Jun Rong.
In the Girls’ Doubles, the seventh-seeded pair of Gayatri and Mansa Rawat will be hoping to continue their upward trajectory. They could potentially meet the formidable Chinese duo Tan Ke Xuan and Wei Yue Yue in the third round. Meanwhile, Vennala Kalagotla and Reshika U will begin their campaign against Poland’s Dominika Bartlomiejczuk and Kaja Ziolkowska in the second round.
Mixed Doubles: Upsets Could Be in the Cards
In Mixed Doubles, the young Indian pairs are looking to cause an upset. C Lalramsanga and Taarini Suri, who reached the final of the Junior Grand Prix in Pune earlier this year, will have a challenging route ahead. They are likely to face the eighth-seeded Japanese pair of Shuji Sawada and Aoi Banno in the third round. Similarly, Bhavya Chhabra and Vishakha Toppo will have to take on the third-seeded French pair of Thibault Gardon and Agathe Cuevas as well as the sixth-seeded Thai combination of Pannawat Jamtubim and Kodchaporn Chaichana to make it deep into the tournament.
A Bright Future Ahead for Indian Badminton
As the BWF World Junior Championships gets underway in Guwahati, all eyes will be on Tanvi Sharma and Unnati Hooda to carry India’s hopes for glory. Their performances will not only define the tournament but also set the stage for the future of Indian badminton.
While the Boys’ Singles and Doubles events will present their own challenges, the country’s rising talents, particularly in Girls’ Singles and Doubles, could finally herald the dawn of a new era in Indian badminton. With strong support from the Badminton Association of India and the infrastructure at the National Centre of Excellence, these youngsters have the potential to elevate Indian badminton to even greater heights.
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