At the World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, the Indian badminton team secured a spot in the quarter-finals after a decisive victory against the United States. The team won their round of 16 match with a score of 3-1, demonstrating skill and teamwork.
The mixed badminton team's performance is part of a larger participation of Indian athletes in the Games, competing in 18 sports. The World University Games, also known as the 'Olympics for university athletes', is a multi-sport event held every two years for student-athletes between the ages of 17 and 25. This year's edition is the largest FISU Games to date, with over 9,200 athletes from more than 150 countries.
The Indian team's victory positions them for a quarter-final match against Malaysia, presenting a test of their strategy and depth. Malaysia's badminton team received a boost after a favorable draw. They topped Group D and were set to face France in the round of 16. A victory against France would lead them to a quarterfinal match against either the United States or India.
Besides badminton, other Indian athletes have also shown promise at the World University Games. Tennis player Vaishnavi Adkar reached the pre-quarterfinals. In taekwondo, Anika competed but was stopped by South Korea's Kim Yunseo in the 46kg category quarterfinal. Fencer Abhinash Meitei won against opponents from Qatar and Israel before being eliminated by Poland's Jan Hieromin Nowak. However, the women's table tennis and basketball teams faced challenges and were eliminated from their competitions.
The FISU World University Games 2025 are taking place across several cities in the Rhine-Ruhr region, including Bochum, Duisburg, Essen, Hagen, and Mülheim an der Ruhr, as well as Berlin. The games, which began on July 16, will continue until July 27. Live streaming of the event is available on Olympics.com.
India has been participating in the FISU World University Games since the inaugural edition in 1959. This year, around 300 Indian student-athletes from over 60 universities are representing the country.
