Lakshya Sen to lead India’s contingent at the World Junior Championships

11/05/2018

Asian champion and world junior number four Lakshya Sen will spearhead the Indian junior badminton team at the World Junior Championships in Canada which starts on Monday. India have been seeded at number five and are placed in group E alongside Algeria, Faroe Islands, Kenya, and Sri Lanka.

Indian youngster Lakshya Sen has quickly established himself as one of the leading players in the junior badminton circuit. The reigning Asian champion will look to set an example ahead of the next week’s World Junior Badminton Championships which will be held at Markham, Canada.

Sen, who is currently ranked at number four, will be expected to lead the contingent of young Indian shuttlers that will make their way to North America for the international event. The 14-day championship is scheduled to start on November 10 and will be followed by individual events, which are slated go on from November 11 to 18.

"I know how important the world championships are for all of us. Personally, I have a lot of responsibility and I would do all that is possible to give my best shot at the medals, both at team event as well as in individuals," Lakshya told PTI.

The 23-member Indian squad will look at Lakshya for inspiration as he will also be expected to lead the mixed team's podium charge for the first-ever medal from the Worlds since it was included in the year 2000. China, who won the title in the last edition, have been seeded at number one, followed by Indonesia at two, while South Korea and Thailand share the third spot.

India, who have been seeded at number five, are placed in group E alongside Algeria, Faroe Islands, Kenya, and Sri Lanka. The group gives the Indian squad a good chance to make it to the quarterfinals. The event in Canada will give an opportunity to a talented group of youngsters, which include Kiran George, Priyanshu Rajawat, Alap Mishra among boys and Malvika Bansod and Gayatri Gopichand in girls, to showcase their talent on the international stage.

"The Junior team in the recent times have been doing really well both at team as well as individual events. I am sure the junior shuttlers will do their best to keep the tricolor flying high," said Ajay Singhania, General Secretary, Badminton Association of India.

Squads:

Boys: Lakshya Sen (AAI), Kiran George (Ker), Alap Mishra (MP), Priyanshu Rajawat (MP), Dhruv Kapila (AI), G. Krishna Prasad (AP), K. Manjit Singh (MNP), K. Dingku Singh (MNP), Sai Krishna Sai Kumar (TS), P. Vishnuvardhan Goud (TS), Navneeth Bokka (TS), Akshan Shetty (Mah).

Girls: Malvika Bansod (AAI), P. Gayatri Gopichand (TS), Purve Bhave (AI), Sahiti Bandi (TS), R. Thanusree (TN) Aditi Bhatt (UTR), Tanisha Crasto (Goa), K. Ashwini Bhatt (KTK), Shrishti Jupaddi (TS), Rashi Lambe (Mah).

Lakshya Sen to lead India’s contingent at the World Junior Championships

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