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ndonesian badminton players Lukhi Apri Nugroho and Ririn Amelia in the mixed doubles and Suci Rizki Andini and Tiara Rosalia Nuraidah in the girls’ doubles were crowned Asian junior champions at the finals of the individual event of the Badminton Asia Youth Under-19 Championship in Lucknow, India, on Saturday.

Eighteen-year-old Lukhi and Ririn overcame Chinese pair Pei Tianyi and Ou Dongni in an impressive three-game final 15-21, 21-16, 25-23, while unseeded girls’ doubles pair Suci and Tiara also brought home glory as they ousted fourth-seeded Chow Mei Kuan and Lee Meng Yean of Malaysia 21-18, 16-21, 21-12.

Indonesia sent two girls’ singles players, but only one reached the quarterfinals before bowing out, while all four seeded boys’ singles shuttlers – tournament favorite Arief Gifar Ramadhan, Panji Akbar Sudrajat, Riyanto Subagja and Shesar Hiren Rhustavito – were eliminated in the third round.

National junior singles coach Ronny Agustinus acknowledged that the boys failed to meet expectations and reach the semifinals, while the girls were not yet in the same league as their foreign opponents.

“The boys appeared nervous during the matches as they still lack competition experience. They need to be able to better enjoy their game and change their attitude from wanting to win to wanting to defeat their opponents,” Ronny was quoted as saying on the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) website.

Girls’ singles player Elizabeth Purwaningtyas was the only Indonesian to advance to the quarterfinals, losing 13-21, 17-21 to eventual runner-up Shen Yaying of China. Compatriot Yulia Yoshephine
Susanto was stopped in the third round.

China continued to dominate the girls singles final, with Sun Yu winning the championship by defeating Shen 21-8, 21-13.

The boys’ doubles final was an all-Taiwanese affair with fourth seeds Lin Chia Yu and Huang Po Jui defeating Lu Ching Yao and Huang Chu En 21-14, 21-13.

The host country’s boys’ singles shuttler Verma Sameer was the only Indian to advance to the final, losing 15-21, 17-21 to second seed Malaysian and tournament champion Zulkiffli Zulfadli. In the mixed team event, Indonesia was consistent in its performance by repeating last year’s result and losing in the semifinal, beaten 3-1 by Malaysia, which eventually lost in the final to China 3-1.