Badminton Asia Junior C'ships: Dhyan Santosh stuns 6th seed; Ruparelia, Patri win
Synopsis
Dhyan Santosh's straight-game upset of sixth seed Punnatat Prempunpong headlines India's opening day at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships in Yatsushiro. While Ruparelia and Patri progressed, India's Mixed Team campaign had already ended at the quarterfinals after a tight 2-1 loss to Hong Kong — making the individual draws the last frontier for the young Indian contingent.
Key Takeaways
Dhyan Santosh defeated sixth seed Punnatat Prempunpong (Thailand) 21-17, 21-18 in the boys' singles first round on 1 July .
Fifth seed Dev Ruparelia survived a three-game battle against Sri Lanka's Pamudu Randiligama , winning 21-13, 16-21, 21-7 .
Tanvi Patri cruised past Indonesia's Christabel Purwanto 21-18, 21-6 .
Adarshini Shri won 21-12, 21-12 ; Abhinav Garg lost 21-13, 24-22 to Malaysia's Lucas Lee.
India's Mixed Team campaign ended at the quarterfinals after a 2-1 loss to Hong Kong on Monday.
Dhyan Santosh produced a composed performance to upset sixth seed Punnatat Prempunpong of Thailand in the boys' singles first round of the Badminton Asia Junior Championships in Yatsushiro, Japan, on Wednesday, 1 July. Dev Ruparelia and Tanvi Patri also advanced, though in contrasting fashion, as India's individual campaign got underway on a mixed day.
Dhyan Santosh's Upset Win
Santosh was clinical throughout, dismissing the sixth-seeded Thai shuttler 21-17, 21-18 in straight games. The victory is a notable scalp for the young Indian, who showed composure against a seeded opponent and will boost India's confidence heading into the later rounds.
Ruparelia and Patri Progress
Fifth seed Dev Ruparelia was tested by Sri Lanka's Pamudu Randiligama, who pushed him to a deciding third game before Ruparelia steadied to win 21-13, 16-21, 21-7. Tanvi Patri, by contrast, was in dominant form, sweeping past Indonesia's Christabel Purwanto 21-18, 21-6 with minimal resistance.
Other Indian Results
Adarshini Shri delivered a controlled display, beating Malaysia's Lee Kay Xin 21-12, 21-12. However, Abhinav Garg suffered an early exit, going down to Malaysia's Lucas Lee 21-13, 24-22.
Mixed Team Exit at Quarterfinals
India's run in the Mixed Team event had already ended at the quarterfinal stage on Monday, following a 2-1 defeat to Hong Kong. India led strongly after the opening set, with Ruparelia and Patri helping the side to a 55-44 win in set one. Hong Kong, however, turned the contest around in the second set, with Can Yee Hei and IP Sum Yau building a decisive lead that India could not overcome, eventually winning the set 55-43.
In the decider, Ruparelia gave India an early advantage by defeating Chan, and the mixed doubles pair of Bjorn Jaison and Dianka Waldia kept India ahead at 33-32. But Tanvi Reddy Andluri and Baruni Parshwal lost to Chu and Yi Kiu Yu 5-11, and India were unable to recover, bowing out of the team event. The individual draws now offer India's young shuttlers a fresh chance to make their mark in Yatsushiro.
Point of View
After leading the opening set, points to a recurring vulnerability in India's depth beyond the top two or three players. Ruparelia being pushed to three games by an unseeded Sri Lankan also raises questions about consistency under pressure. The individual draw is now India's only remaining avenue in Yatsushiro, and how Ruparelia and Patri manage their draws from here will be the real measure of this squad's readiness for senior-level competition.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dhyan Santosh and what did he achieve at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships?
Dhyan Santosh is an Indian junior badminton player who upset sixth seed Punnatat Prempunpong of Thailand 21-17, 21-18 in the boys' singles first round at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships in Yatsushiro, Japan, on 1 July.
How did Dev Ruparelia perform in the first round?
Fifth seed Dev Ruparelia advanced to the next round but was pushed to a deciding third game by Sri Lanka's Pamudu Randiligama, eventually winning 21-13, 16-21, 21-7.
What happened to India in the Mixed Team event?
India were eliminated at the quarterfinal stage of the Mixed Team event after losing 2-1 to Hong Kong on Monday. India won the first set 55-44 but lost the second 55-43 and were edged out in the decider.
Which other Indian players won their first-round matches?
Tanvi Patri beat Indonesia's Christabel Purwanto 21-18, 21-6, and Adarshini Shri defeated Malaysia's Lee Kay Xin 21-12, 21-12. Abhinav Garg was the notable loser, going down to Malaysia's Lucas Lee 21-13, 24-22.
Where are the Badminton Asia Junior Championships 2025 being held?
The Badminton Asia Junior Championships are being held in Yatsushiro, Japan, with the first-round individual matches taking place on 1 July 2025.
