Bornil plans switching to senior category after U-15 gold in China

Teen shuttler, 13, who emerged victorious at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships, says triumph in Chengdu has given him the confidence to play against seniors

India shuttler Bornil Aakash Changmai, 13, who became the second player from the country after Siril Verma (2013) to win a gold at the Badminton Asia U-17 and U-15 Junior Championships in Chengdu, China, wants to play in the higher age group (U-17) category from next year. The Assam player says his win in the U-15 event at China has given the confidence to make a switch despite having a year left in the U-15 age group.  Bornil’s achievement has come a decade after Siril’s feat. In the final in China, Bornil defeated Fan Hong Xuan of China 21-19, 21-13.

Meanwhile, Bornil, who arrived from China last week, said he will next play the All India Junior Sub Junior (U-15 & U-17) Ranking Badminton Tournament in Bangalore (November 28-December 5). “I still have another year in U-15, but I plan to start playing in the U-17 and U-19 categories from next year. I am confident of playing against my seniors. I know that initially it could be tough, but I play in the U-17 category at the All India ranking tournament,” Bornil, a class VIII student of the Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sivsagar, Assam, told www.mid-day.com.

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When asked about his toughest match of the tournament in China, Bornil replied: “I feel the pre-quarters against the Japanese [Mahiro Matsumoto] which I won 18-21, 21-16, 21-13 was the toughest. There were nervous moments as I was 0-1 down. It was a chat with my coach Kabir Borah [also his personal coach] which helped me register a come-from-behind win. I was lucky to have my own coach accompanying us in China. That was a blessing for me.”

Talking about his badminton journey, the young shuttler said he started learning the sport when he was in Class II. “My father [Bhupen] enrolled me in badminton coaching when I was really young. For the first couple of years I wasn’t sure if I would continue playing the sport. But after I won the U-13 national title, things changed and I started taking badminton more seriously,” remarked Bornil, who is inspired by Malaysian great Lee Chong Wei’s dedication and strength.

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