New Delhi: India’s U-15 and U-19 Boys squads defeated Singapore and Hong Kong in the quarterfinals of the 27th Asian Youth 2023 in Doha last night. However, the two teams failed to cross the semi-final hurdles and ended up with the bronze medals from the outing, a qualification event for the World Youth Championships in Slovenia in December.
The U-15 Girls lost in the quarterfinals 0-3 to Japan, but the U-19 Girls managed to take a game off Japan before bowing out 1-3.
In the Under-15 category, P.B. Abhnand beat Le Ellsworth of Singapore 11-9, 11-5, 11-7 to set the ball in motion. Priyanuj Bhattacharyya dropped a game against Xing Yao before overpowering to win 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10, and the two Indians struggled against the pair of Irle Eles and Zhou Jinghe but won 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 6-11, 11-7. In the semi-final today, they went down 0-3 to China.
As for the U-19 Boys, the Indians had a tough time against Hong Kong, with their quarterfinal going down to the last rubber in which Jas Modi turned the tables against Yiu Kwan to win 6-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-8, 11-2.
Jash, who lost his opening tie to Chan Baldwin Ho
Wah 8-11, 5-11, 5-11, lost the first two games to Yiu before pulling up his socks to outwit him to put India in the semi-final. Earlier, Ankur Bhattacharjee beat Yiu 11-8, 11-8. 11-7 before Divyansh Srivastava defeated Li Hon Man 11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 12-10 to seal the fate of Hong Kong players.
Like their juniors, the U-16 Boys met championship favourites China in the semi-final and lost 0-3 to satisfy themselves with the bronze medal.
In position matches, the Under-19 girls finished seventh after beating Iran 3-0.
