HYDERABAD :The Yonex-Sunrise All India Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament 2026 (U-19) concluded today at the Heartfulness Gopichand Badminton Academy (HGBA) in a grand ceremony graced by Kamlesh Patel, affectionately known as Daaji (Global Guide, Heartfulness).
Addressing the finalists and the gathering of young athletes, Daaji delivered a powerful message on the intersection of sports and spirituality, urging the players to view both wins and losses as part of life’s journey. “Take life as a play,” he encouraged them, reminding the participants that their dedication to the sport already makes them great players.
The Michael Jordan & Phil Jackson Connection
Drawing from sports history, Daaji captivated the audience with the legendary story of NBA icon Michael Jordan and his coach, Phil Jackson. He recounted how the Chicago Bulls transformed from a team facing a losing streak in the late 1980s to becoming unbeatable national champions. The turning point, Daaji noted, was when Coach Jackson introduced group meditation to the team.
“Before each game, Jackson would gather players in a circle for group meditation—a practice that created extraordinary coordination and unlocked hidden potential,” Daaji shared. He pointed out that this was not a one-time phenomenon; when Jackson later joined the LA Lakers, that team similarly rose to championship status, proving the consistent impact of mental conditioning on high performance.
Unlocking Hidden Potential
Elaborating on the science of inner focus, Daaji explained, “Meditation does something to your system. It awakens your hidden potential.” He emphasized that beyond individual focus, meditation enhances connectivity between teammates and sharpens the intuition needed to anticipate an opponent’s moves.
Quoting the Bhagavad Gita, he referenced the teaching “Yoga karmasu kausalam,” explaining that through Yoga, everything becomes perfect—whether in academics, sports, or daily life.
The address concluded with a video showcasing the transformative impact of meditation on Michael Jordan’s career. Daaji encouraged all participants to incorporate meditation into their daily routine, even if just for a few minutes before a match, to achieve that state of “perfection in action.”
Tournament Recap & Results
Sanctioned by the Badminton Association of India (BAI), the 8-day event saw over 1,100 athletes from 28 States and 8 Union Territories competing at Kanha Shanti Vanam.
FINAL MATCH RESULTS
(Finals held on January 10, 2026)
- Boys’ Singles (U-19) Final:
- Winner: Dev Ruparelia (Maharashtra)
- Runner-up: Nishchal Chand (Uttar Pradesh)
- Score: 21-19, 22-20
- Girls’ Singles (U-19) Final:
- Winner: Tanvi Patri (Odisha)
- Runner-up: Tanvi Reddy Andluri (Telangana State)
- Score: 23-21, 21-16
- Boys’ Doubles (U-19) Final:
- Winners: Charan Ram Thippana & Hari Krishna Veeram Reddy (Andhra Pradesh)
- Runners-up: Aanayan Borah (Assam) & Malsawmhlua (Mizoram)
- Score: 21-12, 23-21
- Girls’ Doubles (U-19) Final:
- Winners: Diya Bheemaiah B (Karnataka) & Baruni Parshwal (Haryana)
- Runners-up: Lakshmi Ridhima Devineni & Sarayu Suryaneni (Telangana State)
- Score: 21-11, 21-12
- Mixed Doubles (U-19) Final:
- Winners: Bjorn Jaison (Kerala) & Diya Bheemaiah B (Karnataka)
- Runners-up: Punith S & Deepak Raj Aditi (Karnataka)
- Score: 21-14, 21-17
Selection for International Circuit
With the conclusion of the finals, the selection committee will now move to finalize the Indian squad for the European leg of the Junior International circuit. The winners and top performers from this tournament have made a strong case for their inclusion in the teams bound for the Dutch and German Junior Internationals in February 2026.
