Karnataka and Tamil Nadu emerge champions at junior badminton nationals

Hyderabad: Karnataka boys and Tamil Nadu girls were crowned champions in the 49th Yonex-Sunrise Inter-State Inter-Zonal Junior National Badminton Championships after registering comfortable 2-0 wins over their respective opponents in Gangtok on Sunday.

With defending champions Mizoram boys and Telangana girls failing to qualify for the Inter-Zonals, the titles were up for grabs, and Karnataka and Tamil Nadu made the most of the opportunity.

In the finals, Karnataka defeated Assam 2-0, while Tamil Nadu got the better of last edition’s runners-up, Delhi, by an identical margin.

In the girls’ team final, 2025 Asian U-17 girls’ singles champion Diksha SR gave Tamil Nadu a winning start by defeating Rishika Nandi 15-12, 15-12. The women’s doubles combination of Ananya Arun and Anjana Manikandan then sealed the victory with a 16-14, 12-15, 15-10 win over Nandi and Ishita Negi.

In the boys’ final, Hardik Divyansh defeated 2023 Asian U-15 champion Bornil Changmai in the men’s singles. The doubles combination of Pavan Suresh and Punith Suresh then beat Changmai and Aanayan Borah 15-9, 10-15, 15-7 to clinch the title.

Results:

Finals

Boys U-19: Karnataka bt Assam 2-0 (Hardik Divyansh bt Bornil Changmai 18-16, 15-6; Pavan Suresh/Punith Suresh bt Aanayan Borah/Changmai 15-9, 10-15, 15-7).

Girls U-19: Tamil Nadu bt Delhi 2-0 (Diksha SR bt Rishika Nandi 15-12, 15-12; Ananya Arun/Anjana Manikandan bt Nandi/Ishita Negi 16-14, 12-15, 15-10).