Tamil Nadu U11 Badminton Sees 500 Entries, Surpassing Nationals | Pranav S V and Iniyasri emerged champions
- WeiDan Sports
- Oct 3
- 3 min read
The 2025 Tamil Nadu U11 Badminton Ranking Tournament has made waves across the Indian badminton scene. Organised by the Tamil Nadu Badminton Association (TNBA) and the Chennai District Badminton Association at the Wesley Badminton Academy, Royapettah, Chennai, the tournament saw a staggering 491 young participants. To put this in perspective, the All India National U11 Tournament in the previous years had 150+ entries, while Tamil Nadu’s numbers in previous years were 263 (2024) and 265 (2023). This dramatic surge highlights the state’s growing commitment to nurturing young badminton talent.
Tamil Nadu’s star performers in WR 100 are inspiring the next generation of players to pursue badminton as a career.
Pranav S V and Iniyasri emerged champions
TNBA Secretary V.E. Arunachalam and Chennai District Badminton Association Secretary Aravind Swamiyappan praised the efforts of Coach K. Raja Rajan (Alpha Badminton Academy) and Nagaraj (Wesley Badminton Academy) for organizing a record-setting U11 (Mini) tournament, setting a benchmark for competitions nationwide. Their meticulous planning ensured top-quality infrastructure, smooth logistics, and an encouraging competitive environment for young shuttlers.
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Why Tamil Nadu is Becoming a Badminton Powerhouse
The numbers speak for themselves. Over three years, Tamil Nadu has consistently invested in grassroots badminton:
Year | TN Entries | All India Entries |
2025 | 491 | Scheduled |
2024 | 263 | 162 |
2023 | 265 | 179 |
With nearly 500 young participants in 2025, Tamil Nadu has not only doubled its entries compared to the national level but also demonstrated the state’s ability to foster early talent development.
TNBA has been actively identifying young talents and supporting them at an early stage.
Tamil Nadu’s star performers—Sathishkumar K (WR 47), Sankar Muthusamy (WR 57), Rithvik Sanjeevi (WR 61), and the doubles pair Hariharan & Ruban Kumar (WR 31)—continue to shine on the international stage, inspiring the next generation of players to pursue badminton as a career.
In recent years, the Tamil Nadu Badminton Association has been actively identifying young talents and supporting them at an early stage, building a high-profile coaching pool and a transparent online system for national/international entries and BAI/BWF ID registrations. President Dr. Anbumani and Secretary V.E. Arunachalam have presided over all tournaments— from U11 to Senior Championships—held at least two events every month across the state. Recently, TNBA has launched Team Championship events to foster a strong team culture and promote cross-development among players across the state.
This growing interest is likely to translate into higher-quality training programs, advanced infrastructure, and more competitive tournaments in the future.
Future Prospects
Infrastructure Excellence: With such high participation, there is a clear need for world-class badminton facilities. Investments in academies set a precedent, attracting more young talent and international-standard coaching.
Top-Level Coaching: Recognising and nurturing coaching talent will ensure that the state continues to produce elite players. Experienced coaches serve as role models, inspiring a new generation to train professionally from a young age.
Economic and Business Growth: The rise of badminton in Tamil Nadu opens up business opportunities, sponsorships, tournaments, and sports academies, contributing to local economies and job creation.
Career Opportunities: Beyond playing professionally, a strong badminton ecosystem encourages careers in coaching, physiotherapy, sports management, and sports media, giving young athletes multiple pathways within the sport.
Tamil Nadu is quickly emerging as a hub for future Indian badminton stars. The record-setting 2025 U11 tournament proves that the state is serious about investing in grassroots development, infrastructure, and coaching, creating a robust ecosystem for young players. If this momentum continues, the state is well-positioned to dominate national and international badminton circuits in the years to come.
The Tamil Nadu U11 State Championship witnessed thrilling performances across categories.
In Boys’ Singles (U11), top seed Pranav S V clinched the title, defeating third seed Nirav Ayyappa Hariharan, while second seed Pranaav Sureshkumar and fourth seed Aasim settled for bronze.
In Girls’ Singles (U11), second seed Iniyasri emerged champion, overcoming Mithra K in the final. Akira Antony and third seed S Dakshana Shri finished joint third.
The Boys’ Doubles (U11) crown went to Nirav Ayyappa Hariharan & Pranav S V, who beat Aasim & Pranaav Sureshkumar in a high-voltage final. Sanjai Mahesh M P & Vedheeshvara S S, along with fourth seeds Athiksh Venkat V & Krishang Ganesh Thawari, secured the semifinal spots.
In Girls’ Doubles (U11), top-seeded pair Iniyasri & Kavanya Jothi N P claimed the title by defeating third seeds S Dakshana Shri & Sanjithra V S. Harithra V & Mithra K and C Parithi & Kirdhi Yazhini J shared the bronze.
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