Jalandhar, October 9
Jalandhar’s rising badminton talent Inayat Gulati has scripted a remarkable achievement by winning the U-15 girls’ singles title at the All India Sub-Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament in Jaipur. Inayat defeated the top seed in the final after overcoming the second seed in the semi-finals, underlining her ability to fight back under pressure.
In the final, Inayat faced top seed Alexia Elsa Alexander. After losing the opening game 6-15, the Jalandhar shuttler staged a strong comeback, winning the second game 15-3 before sealing the title with a 15-10 victory in the decider.
Earlier, Inayat defeated second seed Aryama Chakravarty 20-21, 15-11, 15-11 in the semi-finals. She recovered from a narrow opening-game loss to win the next two games and secure her place in the final.
With this victory, Inayat has become the first player from Jalandhar and the second from Punjab to win the U-15 girls’ singles title at the All India Sub-Junior Ranking Tournament. Punjab’s Tanvi Sharma had previously achieved the feat.
Originally from Phagwara, Inayat is a student of Delhi Public School, Jalandhar, and trains at Ratti Badminton Academy under the guidance of former international shuttler Sachin Ratti.
Her latest triumph adds to an impressive run of performances. In July 2026, she earned a silver medal in U-15 mixed doubles at an All India ranking tournament, following which she was selected for the Indian sub-junior badminton team. She subsequently represented India at the Asia Sub-Junior Badminton Championships in Chengdu, China, in September.
Inayat has also established herself on the domestic circuit, winning several district and state-level titles. Her selection by the Badminton Association of India (BAI) for training at the National Centre of Excellence in Guwahati marks another significant milestone in her career. The BAI will fully sponsor her training and travel expenses, providing her with greater opportunities to develop her game and compete at higher levels.
Punjab Badminton Association secretary Ritin Khanna announced that the District Badminton Association, Jalandhar, will honour Inayat with a cash award of ₹21,000 in recognition of her achievement.
Inayat’s latest success is being seen as a major boost for Punjab badminton, highlighting the growing potential of young players from the region on the national and international stage.