Bangladesh’s mixed doubles pair Al Amin Jumar and Urmi Akter made history by reaching the final of an international badminton tournament for the first time, winning the silver medal at the Yonex-Sunrise Bangladesh International Challenge 2025, reports the Daily Sun.
In the mixed doubles final, the Bangladeshi duo faced Malaysia’s Datu Anif and Clarissa San. Jumar and Urmi fought hard in the opening game but were unable to sustain the pressure in the later stages, eventually losing the match 27–21 and 21–14 to settle for silver.
Four finals were held on Saturday at the tournament venue. Owing to the State Mourning Day, no formal ceremonies were arranged. Players, coaches, and officials wore black badges as they carried out their respective duties on the court.
Despite missing out on the gold medal, reaching the final ensured a financial reward for the Bangladeshi pair. Bangladesh Badminton Federation President Habib Ullah Don awarded USD 500 each to Jumar and Urmi, totaling USD 1,000, and assured continued support for their development, including improved training facilities and foreign coaching opportunities.
After the final, Al Amin Jumar said,
“Reaching the final of an international event for the first time is a big achievement for us, but missing out on the title does hurt. Our opponents are far ahead of us in terms of training and facilities. I competed in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles but did not feel fatigued—I played with joy. This time we couldn’t win, but I am confident we will bring gold for the country in the future.”
Urmi Akter credited their recent three-month training camp ahead of the SA Games for their strong performance in the tournament.
“The three-month training camp ahead of the SA Games helped us a lot, which is why we reached the final. There is a clear difference between us and them. You can see it from their kits—they play with major sponsors. We lack long-term training opportunities and sponsorships. If we had similar support, we could go much further. After all, they are human, and so are we.”
In other finals, India’s Meiraba Maisnam claimed the men’s singles title by defeating compatriot Numair Shaik 21–7, 21–12. The women’s singles crown went to USA’s Ishika Jaiswal, who edged past India’s Tanvi Reddy Andluri in a thrilling three-game contest, winning 22–20, 21–23 and 21–15. In men’s doubles, India’s Niranjaan and Ruban Kumar beat Vietnam’s Dang Khac and Tran Hoang 21–19, 21–12. The women’s doubles title was won by Thailand’s Phattharin and Sarisa Janpeng, who overcame Malaysia’s Gan Min and Tan Zhing 21–7, 20–22 and 21–15.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
