Bhagwant Mann: Jagsher Singh Khangurra, who hails from Nabha town in Punjab, won bronze in the boys’ singles at the BWF World Junior Championships 2026 in Cairo, Egypt. The win has drawn praise from political leaders in the state, including an AAP MP who celebrated the achievement.
The Comeback That Secured the Medal
Khangurra entered as the 14th seed. In the quarterfinal, he beat Chinese Taipei’s Yuan-Syue Jhuang 6-15, 17-15, 15-12 in 48 minutes after losing the opening game. That win guaranteed him a medal, because losing semifinalists receive bronze.
Semifinal Loss to Indonesia
On Friday, October 16, he lost the semifinal to Indonesia’s Radithya Bayu Wardhana 6-15, 15-13, 3-15 in 49 minutes. He had levelled the match after losing the first game, but Wardhana’s attacking game proved too strong in the decider.
What the Medal Means for India
Khangurra became only the ninth Indian boys’ singles player to finish on the podium at this event. It is India’s first boys’ singles medal there in three years, since Ayush Shetty’s bronze in 2023. It is also India’s seventh individual bronze, taking the country’s overall tally to 13 medals: one gold, five silver and seven bronze.
From Nabha to Bengaluru
He began playing badminton at the age of seven. He later trained at academies in Bahadurgarh and Mumbai before moving to the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, where he works under coaches Sagar Chopda and Muniramu G. According to IANS, he is ranked 8th in the Under-19 boys’ singles list as of September 22, 2026. He has also been India’s No. 1 in the Under-17 category.
Looking Ahead
For Punjab, the medal adds to the state’s growing record in youth sport. For Khangurra, the next step is moving from the junior circuit to senior tournaments.
