Jagsher Singh Khangurra and Ip Sum Yau delivered standout performances to secure medals at the 2026 VICTOR BWF World Junior Championships on Thursday. Both players navigated challenging quarterfinal matches to progress to the semifinals of their respective singles events.
In the men's singles, India's Khangurra overcame Chinese Taipei's Jhuang Yuan-Syue in a 48-minute encounter. After dropping the opening game 6-15, Khangurra demonstrated tactical maturity to win the subsequent games 17-15 and 15-12 to seal his place.
Khangurra noted that his initial struggle was due to difficulty controlling the shuttle against his opponent's powerful smashes. He adjusted his approach by focusing on anticipation and net play, eventually finding the rhythm required to secure the victory.
Reflecting on the achievement, Khangurra expressed his pride in representing India. He stated that the dream of playing at the World Juniors had been a long-term ambition, and he is now focused on competing for the gold medal.
Khangurra is set to face Indonesia's Radithya Bayu Wardhana in the next round. Wardhana earned his place in the final four after defeating Malaysia's Lim Boom Le in straight games, finishing the match with a score of 15-8, 15-11.
The top half of the men's singles draw features top seed Mady Sow of France. Sow recovered from a mid-match slump against Korea's Park Jung Bin to win 15-12, 13-15, 15-2, setting up a clash with 18th seed Fardhan Rainanda Joe.
Sow expressed his satisfaction with the result, noting the importance of maintaining speed after losing concentration in the second game. He stated that he was very happy with his focus in the final game of the match.
In the women's singles, Hong Kong China's Ip Sum Yau displayed significant resilience against Su Xiao-Ting of Chinese Taipei. Despite trailing 3-8 in the deciding game, Ip fought back to win the match with a final score of 8-15, 15-6, 15-11.
Ip highlighted the significance of the result for her country, noting that it had been many years since a women's singles player from Hong Kong China secured a medal at this level. She credited her determination for the comeback.
Her coach, Wong Choon Hann, praised Ip's mental fortitude during the match. He noted that her ability to think independently and form new strategies during moments of adversity is a high-value trait for an athlete at this level.
Ip will next face China's Zhang Yi Xin for a place in the final. The other women's singles semifinal will feature top seed Saki Matsumoto of Japan against China's Yin Yi Qing, following the conclusion of the quarterfinal round.
The tournament also saw significant action across the doubles categories. In the mixed doubles, two Indonesian pairs advanced to the semifinals, where they will face opponents from China and Chinese Taipei respectively in the upcoming sessions.
Reihan Promono and Atresia Candani are set to take on Feng Yi Lang and Li Meng Han of China. The other mixed doubles semifinal features Muhammad Luthfi Habibi and Dian Ramadhani Mukti against the pair from Chinese Taipei.
Malaysia's Genevie Lim, who reached the women's doubles semifinals, commented on the emotional adjustment required after her mixed doubles loss. She noted that the team had to quickly process the defeat to maintain their focus on the doubles.
The women's doubles semifinals will feature Malaysia's Genevie Lim and Low Zi Yu against China's Shi Si Chen and Xiang Yu Jin. The other match will see Japan's Nijika Kamata and Shizuku Kashio play Korea's Choi Ye Da and Kim Min Chae.
In the men's doubles, China's third seeds Feng Yi Lang and Wei Jian Zhen are scheduled to play Japan's Oku Mahiro and Masato Yamashiro. Both pairs have shown strong form throughout the early stages of the tournament.
Meanwhile, top seeds Chen Ping Hsuan and Lee Wei Ting will face Hong Kong China's Njoto Michaelangelo and Yu Zhirui Jerry. This match is expected to be a highlight of the men's doubles semifinal schedule.
China's challenge in the men's singles concluded in the Round of 16 following Han Tian Yue's loss to Mady Sow. Despite this, China remains in contention for four titles across the remaining tournament categories.
The BWF World Junior Championships continue to serve as a platform for emerging talent. Athletes like Khangurra and Ip have demonstrated the high level of preparation and mental strength required to succeed on the international stage.
As the competition moves into the semifinal phase, the focus shifts to the remaining players vying for the gold. The results from Thursday's matches have confirmed a diverse field of competitors representing nations from across the globe.
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