World Junior Mixed Team Ch’ships | Meiraba Luwang and Tanisha Crasto star in India’s group win
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India started the BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships on a bright note as Tanisha Crasto and Meiraba Luwang won their respective matches in a domineering manner to the side a commanding 4-1 win over USA. India will also play Australia, Armenia, and Japan in their group stage matches.
It was Goa’s Crasto who turned heads with her display in girls’ doubles as well as mixed doubles in Kazan, Russia on Monday. Partnering Chattisgarh’s Ishaan Bhatnagar, the mixed doubles duo won the first match for India 22-20, 21-9 against Jacob Zhang and Jessica Wang.
It was followed by a win in the junior boys’ singles event where Maisnam Meiraba Luwang of Manipur defeated 520th ranked Alexander Zheng with an easy 21-9, 21-11 scoreline with the match lasting just 26 minutes. Gujarat’s Tasnim Mir was also expected to have a starry display in the tournament but she had to grind out a gritty 21-19, 25-23 win over world No 75 Natalie Chi. Her win made the tie 3-0 tie in India’s favour.
The rest of the matches were inconsequential and the lack of enthusiasm was seen as the duo of Manjit Singh Khwairakpam and Iman Sonowal went down 23-25, 19-21 to William Yu and Joshua Yuan. However, the duo of Aditi Bhatt and Crasto won their last match 21-16, 15-21, 21-7 against Katelin Ngo and Esther Shi.
The group stages would be continuing until October 2 before the knockouts begin and India would be seen playing Australia, Armenia and Japan in Group E.
