The many exciting possibilities of the 3 x 45 relay scoring system were on display on the opening day of the YONEX SUNRISE BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships 2025 in Guwahati.
There was, for instance, Sri Lanka’s one-point margin over UAE, with the Sri Lankans winning after a dead heat at 44-all in the third set; the tie being decided by a service that fell short.
Then there was USA’s comeback win over Vietnam in straight sets after trailing all through the opening set.
The action unfolded at breathtaking pace with the debut of the updated team relay scoring system. The tie of the opening day was Sri Lanka’s 30-45 45-34 45-44 victory over UAE in Group H. UAE, led by Bharath Latheesh and Prakriti Bharath who had multiple roles in singles and doubles, took all the five matches in the opening set, putting UAE ahead at 45-30.
Sri Lanka’s Ranithma Liyanage
UAE’s decision to tweak the lineup for the second set backfired. Riyan Malhan, playing men’s singles instead of Bharath Latheesh, fell in the opening match to Keneth Aruggoda. From there the momentum changed, with Ranithma Liyanage avenging her earlier defeat to Prakriti Bharath, and the rest of their team followed suit to put Sri Lanka at a set apiece.
Bharath Latheesh returned for men’s singles in the third set but a confident Aruggoda handed the early lead to Sri Lanka. It came down to the final women’s doubles, with Sandathi Hewagallage/Pawani Illeperumaarachchi handed the baton with the Lankans having a narrow six-point lead at 36-30. It went neck-and-neck against Prakriti Bharath and Mysha Omer Khan, and at 44-44, it was anybody’s tie. A weak service by UAE finally saw Sri Lanka edge the contest for a memorable victory.
“We took some time to warm up,” said Keneth Aruggoda. “We gained momentum when they changed the lineup for the second set, and from there we got confident.”
USA’s Garret Tan
USA’s win over Vietnam in Group B followed a different pattern. Vietnam led through the first four matches of the opening set, and when Garret Tan took on Le Minh Son, Vietnam had a one-point lead at 36-35. Tan started erratically but steadied his nerves as the match progressed, taking his match and the opening set at 45-42.
That shifted the tie USA’s way, with his teammates effecting a turnaround in the second set and winning all their matches. Tan came on for his match against Nguyen Tat Duy Loi with USA leading 36-28, and this time there was no nervous start. Tan led from start to finish to close it out 45-30 and hand the tie to USA.
“In the first match I was more tense as we were down, but in the second we were ahead, so I could relax. The format is very fast, we don’t have time to warm up, so we always have to be prepared for the next match. I do think we have a chance to come back even if we are down. If we lose the first match we still have a chance to come back in the second and third,” said Tan.
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