Indian Players Shine at Dutch Junior International 2026 Badminton Tournament

The Dutch Junior International 2026 has begun in Haarlem, showcasing a strong performance from the Indian badminton team. Players like Dev Ruparelia and Pranit Somani have advanced to the next round, with impressive victories in their matches. This tournament marks a significant opportunity for young athletes to shine on an international stage. Read on to discover more about the matches and results from this exciting event.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 26, 2026, 02:17 IST

Exciting Start for Indian Contingent

The Dutch Junior International 2026 kicked off on Wednesday at the DEGIRO-hal in Haarlem, where the Indian badminton team made a strong impression, with several men's singles players advancing to the next stage.

Dev Ruparelia achieved a convincing win against Lithuania's Rokas Lesinskas, finishing the match in straight games with scores of 21-15 and 21-18, taking just 29 minutes.

Next up for Ruparelia is his compatriot Pranit Somani, who triumphed in a challenging three-game match against Denmark's Christopher Kunckel. Somani secured victory with scores of 21-13, 21-23, and 21-11 after a 49-minute battle, as reported by the Badminton Association of India (BAI).

Akhil Reddy Bobba also progressed smoothly, defeating Germany's Jarno Deters with a scoreline of 21-11, 21-9.

Here are some notable results:

Dev Ruparelia bt Rokas Lesinskas (LTU) 21-15, 21-18

Pranit Somani bt Christopher Kunckel (DEN) 21-13, 21-23, 21-11

Akhil Reddy Bobba bt Jarno Deters (GER) 21-11, 21-9

Samuel Tamang bt Nils Barion (GER) 21-9, 21-9

Aanayan Borah bt Milan Zeisig (GER) 22-20, 21-19.