Bengaluru: After an impressive runner-up finish in the German Junior, a chocolate cake awaited Rujula Ramu at her Bengaluru residence. In just her second competition abroad, the 17-year-old badminton player managed to walk away with a silver medal from a strong-field, which included junior world No. 1 Anyapat Phichitpreechasak of Thailand among other higher-ranked players.
The Bengaluru girl succumbed to Japan’s Yurika Nagafuchi 14-21, 20-22 in the final on Sunday. But en route, Rujula, ranked world no. 33 in the junior circuit, punched above her weight, shocking seventh seed, Shan Zi OO from Malaysia (quarterfinals) and third seed Gloria Poluektov from Germany (R16).
“I am happy with my overall performance in Germany as I beat some good players. I could have done better in the final and should have at least taken the match to the decider,” a first-year student of Reva Independent PU College told TOI. “However, playing against such quality players is always going to help me because I get to learn a few things and I will understand where I really stand.”
Rujula, whose best result has been an U-17 All India Junior ranking tournament triumph in Lucknow 2023, understands the need to up her game as she is in her last year of the junior circuit. It is a transition period for the Indian, who will delve into both the junior and senior level competitions in 2025. “The whole of 2025, I’ll be playing most of the senior nationals in India and if possible a few senior internationals too besides the junior events.”
The shuttler, who trains at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, is aware of the tough road ahead. “It is going to be a challenge (at the senior level). There will be more quality competitors that I need to compete with. And I also have a financial challenge. As of now, I don’t have a personal sponsor. I would need good money for the upcoming years as I have to travel around India and abroad to compete,” concluded Rujula, who is the only daughter of Ramu, software engineer, and Leela, homemaker.