India defeated Sweden 3-2 in their Group D match of the mixed team event to set up a clash with Malaysia in the final stage of the world junior badminton championships in Yogjakarta. India, who blanked USA, Hungary and Australia 5-0 in the last two days, registered wins in the men’s singles, women singles and mixed doubles event. However, they lost the men’s and women’s doubles matches.
It was the mixed doubles combo of Dhruv Kapila and Mithula UK who got proceedings under way for India, defeating Carl Harrbacka and Tilda Sjoo 21-16, 16-21, 21-15. Lakshya Sen, who won the Bulgarian Open this year, then dumped Colin Hammarberg 21-11, 21-9 in the men’s singles match to give his side a 2-0 lead. In women’s singles, Ashmita Chaliha then brushed aside Ashwathi Pillai 21-8, 21-14 in 24 minutes to make it 3-0 in India’s favour.
Krishna Prasad Garaga and Kapila played their hearts but came out second best against 21-17, 20-22 16-21 to Adam Gozzi and Carl Harrbacka in men’s doubles category. In the final match, women’s doubles pair of Rutaparna Panda and Mithula UK lost 22-24, 17-21 to Ashwathi Pillai and Tilda Sjoo.
