On October 5, 2024, the World Junior Badminton Championships concluded in Nanchang, China, with the Indonesian team claiming the team championship by defeating China 110-103.
During the competition, Chinese player Xu Wenjing laid a strong foundation for her team by winning the opening match 11-7. However, the momentum shifted quickly as the Indonesian women’s doubles pair surged ahead, dominating China’s Chen Fanshutian and Liu Jiayue with an impressive 12-point lead and finishing the match at 22-15.
The mixed doubles match featuring Lin Xiangyi and Liu Yuanyuan proved to be a rollercoaster ride. At one point, they found themselves trailing 20-30 but fought back to narrow the score to 30-33. Despite their valiant effort, Indonesia continued to press their advantage in the men’s singles and doubles matches, leaving China in a tough spot with a score of 48-55 after the initial five matches.
When Xu Wenjing returned for her next match, she faced a tough opponent in Indonesia’s Mutiarah, as Chen Fanshutian and Liu Jiayue struggled in the women’s doubles match. By the end of the seventh match, China was trailing by as much as 15 points. The mixed doubles team briefly closed the gap to 77-83, but Indonesia quickly regained their footing, scoring five consecutive points to extend their lead to 88-77.
In the men’s singles, Indonesia’s Ubaldira demonstrated remarkable skill at the net, bringing Indonesia closer to securing the Sudirman Cup. In the final men’s doubles match, despite Lin Xiangyi and Hu Keyuan contributing 16 points, the earlier deficit proved insurmountable, allowing Indonesia to celebrate their victory with a final score of 110-103, marking their first Sudirman Cup win in five years.
After the match, Chinese men’s singles player Hu Zhe’an shared his thoughts on the pressure of trailing: “Being behind adds stress with the scores, especially when it comes to attacking shots. You become hesitant to take risks because you’re focused on closing the gap and avoiding mistakes, which ultimately lowers the quality of your performance.”
The 2024 World Junior Badminton Championships featured both team and individual events, drawing over 400 athletes from 40 countries and regions. The individual competitions are scheduled to take place from October 7 to October 13, with five event champions poised to be crowned.
