India announce 18-member squad for BWF World Junior Championships 2026: Tanvi Patri, Shaina Manimuthu to lead

The Badminton Association of India (BAI) has announced an 18-member squad for the BWF World Junior Championships 2026, scheduled to take place in Cairo, Egypt, from October 5-17. Freshly crowned Asian U17 champion Tanvi Patri and continental silver medallist Shaina Manimuthu will lead the team, while Dev Ruparelia – winner of the India Junior International Grand Prix – features in the boys' singles. India's squad is balanced across all five disciplines, with four boys' singles, four girls' singles, two boys' doubles pairs, two girls' doubles pairs and two mixed doubles pairs. Notably, Yogansh Singh and Aanya Bisht will compete in two events each. Bisht was a member of the historic team medal squad in 2026, when India won bronze in the Suhandinata Cup and silver in an individual event on home soil in Guwahati. The 2026 edition carries a significant twist: BWF has approved experimental scoring formats. The Suhandinata Cup team event will use a 3x55 relay scoring system, while the individual Eye Level Cups will use a 3x15 format. These shorter formats increase unpredictability and reduce the margin for comeback, testing the adaptability of junior players. India are seeded fifth in the team event. They must top Group D1 (Peru, Brazil) and then win a playoff against the Group D2 winners – likely Indonesia, seeded ninth – to reach the quarter-finals. BAI Secretary General Sanjay Mishra expressed confidence, citing the squad's hard work and momentum from last year. However, a critical view suggests that India's 2026 medals came at home in Guwahati. Replicating that success in Cairo, away from home, under new scoring formats, will be a far tougher task. The team's preparation includes a dedicated camp from September 25 to October 2 at the National Centre of Excellence in Guwahati. The tournament is not just a test for India's young talents but also a laboratory for BWF. If the new formats prove exciting, they could be adopted at senior levels in the future.