Meet Jagsher Khangurra: India's 15-year-old badminton star with gold in his sights

India's 15-year-old Jagsher Singh Khangurra saved match point to assure himself of a medal at the BWF World Junior Championships. After a stunning comeback, the Punjab shuttler is now eyeing gold as he prepares for the semi-finals.Jagsher Singh Khangurra will battle for gold at the BWF World Junior Championships. (Image: BWF Media)Cairo,Oct 15, 2026 20:51 ISTAt 15, Jagsher Singh Khangurra has already learnt that sometimes, the biggest battles in badminton are fought inside the head. One point away from elimination at the BWF World Junior Championships, the Indian teenager reminded himself why he was there, who he was playing for and how much the moment meant. The result was a stunning comeback, an assured medal for India and a dream that has suddenly grown bigger.Khangurra saved a match point to defeat Chinese Taipei's Yuan-Syue Jhuang 6-15, 17-15, 15-12 in a thrilling boys' singles quarter-final in Cairo on Thursday. The victory guaranteed the 15-year-old a podium finish at his first World Junior Championships, but the Punjab shuttler is already looking beyond the medal."The feeling can't be expressed by words. It's really awesome, getting a medal for India. I can't express it in words," Khangurra said after the match."(For) almost 5-6 years I have been dreaming of playing in the World Championship, Junior World Championship. Now, I have already secured a medal, but I am hoping for gold." That ambition is what makes his run particularly compelling. Khangurra has spent years working towards the opportunity to compete on this stage. Now that he has arrived, he wants to make the most of it.THE MOMENT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHINGThe quarter-final looked to be slipping away early. Jhuang dominated the opening game, winning 15-6 and leaving the Indian struggling to control the rallies. The Taiwanese shuttler continued to apply pressure in the second game, moving to the brink of victory before Khangurra found a way to stay alive. Rather than allowing the occasion to overwhelm him, the teenager turned to self-talk to reset his approach."He outplayed me in the first set, like I was not able to control. But in the second set, I talked to myself, like this is a quarter-final match. I have to play for India, for my parents," he said."It gave me a lot of boost and I only thought that I have to take all the shuttles. I will not leave any shuttle."The shift in mindset proved decisive. Khangurra saved match point and edged the second game 17-15 before carrying the momentum into the decider, which he won 15-12.It was a comeback built on persistence rather than a sudden change in fortunes. With the match on the line, Khangurra refused to concede another shuttle without a fight.LEARNING FROM THE BESTKhangurra has been training at the Centre for Badminton Excellence in Bengaluru for the past two years under coaches Sagar Chopda and Muniramu G. The youngster has already won six medals at international tournaments, but he knows there is more work to do if he is to compete consistently at the highest level.He believes developing his power is one of the key areas he needs to address. At the same time, training in an environment that includes some of India's leading shuttlers has given him valuable lessons.Lakshya Sen, in particular, has caught his attention."I have watched many matches of international players, including India's Lakshya Sen. He trains in the same place. I watch him play; he is really good. He also likes to do placements," Khangurra said.For a young player still developing his game, observing how established international shuttlers construct rallies and use placement can be as valuable as time spent on the court. Khangurra's willingness to identify his weaknesses also points to an understanding that this medal is a milestone, not a destination.THE DREAM GETS BIGGERKhangurra's route to the semi-finals has been convincing. Before overcoming Jhuang, he defeated Malaysia's Lee Qian Chong 15-8, 15-8 in the pre-quarter-finals. He had also beaten Thailand's 22nd seed Punnatat Prempunpong in the round of 32, along with Mauritius' Pranav Bhaugeerothee and Algeria's Mohamed Rayane Bouffeniche in earlier rounds.The 14th seed will next face Indonesia's Radithya Bayu Wardhana, seeded 31st, on Friday for a place in the final. A win would give Khangurra the opportunity to fight for gold at a tournament he had spent five to six years dreaming of playing in.India have won one gold, five silver and six bronze medals in boys' singles at the World Junior Championships. Khangurra has already added to that legacy by guaranteeing himself a podium finish.India's campaign in the girls' singles ended in the quarter-finals, with Shaina Manimuthu, the Asian Under-17 silver medallist, losing 5-15, 8-15 to China's Yi Qing Yin.For Khangurra, though, the focus remains firmly on what comes next. He has survived the moment when his World Juniors campaign could have ended. Now, with a medal secured and a place in the semi-finals awaiting him, the teenager from Punjab has a chance to turn a breakthrough into something even bigger.- Ends