India’s Under-19 boys’ team assured themselves of at least a bronze medal and a direct berth in the 2027 World Youth Table Tennis Championships after defeating Hong Kong, China 3-1 in the quarterfinals of the ITTF-ATTU Asian Youth Championships I Bangkok on Monday.
The Indian boys will now take on top seeds China in the semifinal for a place in the final.
Hong Kong drew first blood when Li Ki Ho defeated Priyanuj Bhattacharyya 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8 to give his side an early lead. India quickly restored parity as P.B. Abhinandh overcame Wong Alvin 8-11, 11-7, 11-3, 5-11, 11-4 in a hard-fought five-game encounter.
M R Balamurugan then put India ahead with a commanding 11-8, 11-4, 11-7 victory over Lo Ka Kit, before Abhinandh returned to the table to seal the tie, defeating Li Ki Ho 11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6 and send India into the medal round.
Having reached the semifinals, India are assured of at least a bronze medal, with all four semifinalists also securing automatic qualification for the 2027 World Youth Championships. It is a significant achievement for the Indian boys, who had earlier topped Group 2 with identical 3-0 victories over Thailand and Uzbekistan before receiving a bye into the quarterfinals.
The Indian Under-19 girls, however, fell short of the medal rounds, losing 1-3 to Hong Kong, China in the quarterfinals. As a result, they will have to qualify for next year’s World Youth Championships through the Asian qualification process.
Hong Kong opened the tie with Su Tsz Tung edging Syndrela Das 11-6, 11-8, 10-12, 4-11, 11-6 before Mak Ming Shum doubled the lead with a straight-games 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 victory over Divyanshi Bhowmick.
India pulled one match back through M Hansini, who produced one of the best performances of the tie, overcoming Yuen Sum Lok 11-13, 11-4, 18-16, 11-7 after saving a match point in the third game.
But Hong Kong sealed the contest when Su Tung returned to defeat Divyanshi 11-7, 11-4, 10-12, 9-11, 11-8 in another closely contested five-game match.
Meanwhile, in the Under-15 girls team event, China beat India 3-3 in the quarterfinals, while the Indian paddlers beat Thailand 3-2 in a tough Round of 16 tie. Only Ankolika Chakraborty managed a game off Hanjing Du, while Tanishka Kalbharia and Ahona Ray lost in straight games. Earlier, the Under-15 boys lost to Japan 3-0 in the quarters, with Vatsan Duklan, playing the third rubber, stretching his opponent, Ukyo Kobayashi, before losing 6-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-7, 4-11.
