Al Amin Jumar and Urmi Akter clinched Bangladesh’s first-ever silver medal at the Yonex Sunrise Bangladesh International Challenge in the mixed doubles event in the capital on Saturday.
They became the first Bangladeshi pair to reach the final of any event in the tournament’s history after defeating Thailand’s Kunlapat Lothong and Sarisa Janpeng in straight sets, 21-11, 21-14.
Earlier, the Bangladeshi duo had earned their semi-final berth with a hard-fought 21-16, 19-21, 21-18 win over India’s Swastik Matharasan and Keerthi Manchala in the quarter-finals.
Jumar credited their long-standing partnership and preparation for the unprecedented success. He said, “I have been playing mixed doubles with Urmi for seven years. We are performing well, and the training we did for the SA Games has helped us a lot.”
Team coach Alina Sultana praised their achievement, stating, “Jumar and Urmi have created history for Bangladesh badminton.”
In the final, held at the Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Indoor Stadium on Saturday, Jumar and Urmi looked confident in the first set, which they narrowly lost 27-25 to the Malaysian pair. Malaysia’s Datu Anif and Clarissa San clinched the second set 21-14 to take the title.
The final was played without any formal ceremony due to the State Mourning Day marking the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent leader of Bangladesh’s 2024 student-led uprising. Players, coaches, and officials observed the occasion by wearing black armbands, keeping celebrations muted. Even so, the significance of Bangladesh’s achievement was not lost.
For reaching the final, Jumar and Urmi received prize money, with Bangladesh Badminton Federation president Habib Ullah Don awarding USD 500 each, totaling USD 1,000, and pledging improved facilities and foreign coaching support for the nation’s shuttlers.
Reflecting on their silver medal, Al-Amin Jumar said, “Reaching the final of an international event for the first time is a huge joy, though missing out on the title hurts a little. Our opponents are far ahead in training and facilities. I played without feeling fatigue and enjoyed every moment.”
Urmi Akter echoed the sentiment, crediting their preparation: “The three-month training programme ahead of the SA Games helped us reach the final. There is a clear gap between us and teams with big sponsors and long-term training support. If we had similar facilities, we could go much further.”
Four other finals were also decided on the day. India’s Meiraba Maisnam won the men’s singles, while Isika Jaiswal of the USA claimed the women’s singles title. India triumphed in men’s doubles, and Thailand lifted the women’s doubles crown.
