This elevates the magnitude of the games as the TOPS athletes, who are international achievers already, will inspire the grassroots-level athletes to up the ante and provide a tough contest, as per Sports Authority of India (SAI)
Earlier, men's singles shuttler Gnana Dattu and men's doubles pair Bjorn Jaison and Aathish Sreenivas P. V. had secured bronze medals in the U-15 category.
Top-seed Unnati once again lived up to the expectations and stamped her authority in the U-17 women's singles semi-final when she wrapped up the match in straight sets. The Odisha Open champion has not yet dropped a set in her campaign at the prestigious event.
The Odisha Open champion thrashed Thailand's Nutchavee Sittiteeranan without breaking a sweat by 21-11, 21-19 in the Last-16 match. Starting off the match confidently, Unnati pocketed the first set easily but was pushed hard in the second. The Indian, however, kept her calm even when the gam
While fifth-seed Dhruv, who hails from Uttarakhand, fought hard against Thailand's Panya Phutthiphraisakul during his 21-14, 17-21, 21-15 win in the men's category, top-seed Unnati and Anmol had easy outings in the women's section
In the U-17 women's singles round of 64 match, Odisha Open Champion Unnati thrashed Japan's Misato Sasaki 21-11, 21-5 in just 24 minutes. Unnati will face Indonesia's Dea Nur Fadilla in the round of 32 match tomorrow.
The Odisha Open champion Unnati Hooda will lead the charge in the U-17 women's singles alongside Jiya Rawat and Anmol Kharb whereas Tanvi Sharma, who topped the trials, will compete in the women's U-15 singles along with Ishita Negi, Suhasi Verma and Sampriti Pal.
India's highest-ranked male shuttler in the tournament defeated China's Hu Zhe An in a three-set encounter, 21-18, 8-21, 21-16 in the quarterfinals. Sankar is now assured of a bronze medal.
Unnati Hooda, who won the women's singles title at the Odisha Open in January and went on to become the youngest Indian to win a BWF Super 100 title, will next play Japanese player Hina Akechi in the pre-quarterfinals.