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Journalism of Courage
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu complimented the Indian shuttlers for winning the bronze in the mixed team event at the Junior World Championships in Guwahati on Friday. The 30-year-old former world champion wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that the future of badminton in India was “beautiful” and wished the shuttlers the best of luck in the individual events.
India bowed out of the team event at the semi-final stage, after losing to Indonesia 45-35. The result meant that they took home a bronze medal – their first-ever podium finish in the mixed team event.
“Our champs are shining bright! The future of Indian badminton is beautiful. Tough luck today, but wishing you the very best for the individual events ahead,” the 2019 world champion wrote on the social media platform.
India had guaranteed themselves a medal after beating Korea in the quarter-final at the National Center of Excellence on Thursday. The individual tournament will commence at the same venue on October 13, with the final on October 19.
“The players had been preparing at this very venue for the last few months and we were confident that we could win a medal if they played to their potential. I am very happy that everyone stood up when it mattered today and I am sure they have the ability to beat Indonesia and reach the final,” Badminton Association of India secretary general Sanjay Mishra had told BAI after the medal was guaranteed.
Sindhu’s best finish at a Junior World Championship was reaching the quarter-final in 2010. She won gold in the Girls’ Singles category at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Douglas in 2011 and backed that performance by winning gold in the Girls’ Singles category at the Asian Junior Championships in Gimcheon in 2012.
Those triumphs proved to be a stepping stone for Sindhu to win her first World Championship medal, a bronze, in Guangzhou in 2013. The shuttler had the chance to win a sixth World Championship medal in 2025, but bowed out in the quarter-final stage.
