India U-19 boys defeat Hong Kong 3-1 to reach Asian Youth Championships semifinals

In news reaching Hyderabad on Monday, 29 June 2026, India's U-19 boys' table tennis team secured a place in the semifinals of the ITTF-ATTU Asian Youth Championships in Bangkok by defeating Hong Kong, China 3-1.

The victory guarantees the Indian team at least a bronze medal in the tournament. It also earns them a direct qualification berth for the 2027 World Youth Table Tennis Championships.

The quarterfinal match began with Hong Kong drawing first blood. Li Ki Ho defeated India's Priyanuj Bhattacharyya in a four-game opener. Li won the match 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8 to give his side an early 1-0 lead in the tie.

India quickly restored parity through P B Abhinandh. In a hard-fought five-game encounter, Abhinandh overcame Wong Alvin. After losing the first game, Abhinandh rallied to win 8-11, 11-7, 11-3, 5-11, 11-4, leveling the tie at 1-1.

M R Balamurugan then put India ahead with a commanding performance. He secured a straight-games victory over Lo Ka Kit, winning 11-8, 11-4, 11-7. This victory put India in a 2-1 lead, leaving them just one win away from the semifinals.

Abhinandh returned to the table for his second match of the tie to seal the victory for India. He faced Li Ki Ho and secured a 11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6 win. This final victory sealed the 3-1 match score and sent the Indian team into the medal round.

Prior to the quarterfinals, the Indian boys' team had put on a strong showing in the group stage. They topped Group 2 by securing identical 3-0 victories over both Thailand and Uzbekistan. This performance earned them a direct bye into the quarterfinals.

With their entry into the semifinals, all four remaining teams are assured of at least a bronze medal. They also secure automatic qualification for the 2027 World Youth Championships. Following their victory, the Indian boys were set to play against top seeds China in the semifinal later on Monday.