Thailand had a memorable day at the YONEX SUNRISE BWF World Junior Championships 2025, guaranteeing themselves of three medals.
The icing on the cake for the Thais was Kodchaporn Chaichana/Pannawee Polyiam coming through in a 78-minute thriller against Indonesia’s Salsabila Aulia/Jania Situmorang. The tenacious Indonesians survived three match points in the second game and two more in the third, before succumbing 15-13 18-20 15-13.
That was the third medal for Thailand after earlier successes in women’s singles. Second seed Anyapat Phichitpreechasak dashed the home crowd’s hopes of an all-India final as she beat one of the pre-tournament favourites Unnati Hooda in straight games. That came after her compatriot Yataweemin Ketklieng had cut apart the challenge of Japan’s Yuzuno Watanabe 15-3 15-12. With Phichitpreechasak and Ketklieng meeting in the semifinals, Thailand are assured of a spot in the final.
Thailand’s Kodchaporn Chaichana and Pannawee Polyiam
Their final opponent will be either Tanvi Sharma or Liu Si Ya. Top seed Sharma came through a test of character against Saki Matsumoto. Trailing 3-7 in the decider, the Indian wore down her opponent with her relentless attacking game. The 13-15 15-9 15-10 win made her the first Indian women’s singles medallist since Saina Nehwal in 2008.
“Very happy to get the medal, since I got it after Saina won in 2008,” said Sharma. “I was a bit nervous after Unnati lost, I tried not to think too much. I’ve been training in this hall for the last one year, but it’s very different here (with the lights and crowd).
“It’s tough to play Saki. She was playing slow rallies, and I had to be aggressive. I was down 8-5, so my coach just told me to give it everything and keep it inside the lines. There was so much pressure when I was 5-8 down.”
Sharma will face China’s Liu Si Ya, who stopped Ranithma Liyanage’s attempt to become the first Sri Lankan in the semifinals.
Highlights
» Malaysia’s Low Zi Yu, women’s doubles silver medallist at the last edition, made the semifinals with Noraqilah Maisarah after a hard-fought victory over Korea’s Cheon Hye In/Moon in Seo.
» Powerhouse China suffered only two losses in their seven quarterfinals. The first reverse came in men’s singles, with Indonesian top seed Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah beating Wu Zi Sheng. Then men’s doubles third seeds Cho Hyeong Woo/Lee Hyeong Woo of Korea played at a spectacular pace to stop Feng Yi Lang/Wei Jian Zhen in 21 minutes, 15-7 15-9.
Korea’s Cho Hyeong Woo and Lee Hyeong Woo
What They Said
“After losing the first game we tried to focus and listen to our coach. It feels good to get a medal. Last year I got a medal with a different partner, so I’m very happy I could do it this year too.” – Low Zi Yu
“I’ve only been coaching for a year, so it means a lot to me and them. I stopped playing 10 years ago, but then just came back to BTY (Bangthongyord) to coach last year. It’s my first year as coach. I wanted to help because we have a lot of good singles players in BTY, but the doubles was missing a bit, so I wanted to help and see what I could do. We’ve come very far.” – Thailand coach Alice Narissapat
BWF Newsletter
