Punjab Finishes on Top With Five Titles at the National Junior Badminton Championship 2026
The National Junior Badminton Championship 2026 came to a thrilling close in Sukkur after five days of intense competition, with Punjab emerging as the most successful side of the tournament by winning five titles. The championship brought together more than 200 young players from across Pakistan, representing provinces, regions and departmental teams in a range of junior age categories.
Organised under the auspices of the Sports and Youth Affairs Department in collaboration with the Pakistan Badminton Federation, the Sindh Badminton Association and the Sukkur division, the event was staged at the Sindh Sports Club in Sukkur. From the first serve to the final point, the courts were packed with the kind of raw, fearless badminton that only junior sport produces.
When the last shuttle landed, Punjab stood at the top of the honours board with five titles. Pakistan Army and SNGPL followed closely with four titles each, while Islamabad claimed two titles and WAPDA added one to its tally. It was a week in which no single team ran away with everything, and that, the coaches in Sukkur agreed, is exactly what junior badminton in Pakistan needs.
Islamabad Sweeps the Under-15 Singles Titles
One of the standout stories of the National Junior Badminton Championship 2026 belonged to Islamabad, whose young shuttlers swept both Under-15 singles crowns. Muhammad Rehan won the boys’ Under-15 singles title, while Zulaikha Fida lifted the girls’ Under-15 singles crown, giving the capital’s camp two of the most talked-about victories of the tournament.
Their wins were a reminder that talent in Pakistani badminton is not confined to the traditional strongholds. With Islamabad joining Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the winners’ list, the championship’s roll of honour read like a map of the whole country.
Final-Day Results: Raja Zulqarnain and Alja Tariq Shine
The finals produced some of the finest junior badminton seen in Pakistan this year. In the boys’ Under-18 singles final, Raja Zulqarnain Haider of Punjab defeated his fellow Punjabi Tayyab Shafiq in straight games, 21-16, 21-17, in an all-Punjab contest that had the crowd on its feet. Zulqarnain was not done there: he also captured the boys’ Under-18 doubles title, pairing up to beat Abdullah and Zubair Shah of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 25-27, 21-13, 21-18 after dropping a heartbreakingly close first game.
The girls’ Under-18 singles final was a three-game classic. Alja Tariq of Balochistan overcame Amal Munib of Punjab 21-15, 15-21, 21-11, sealing one of the biggest wins for Balochistan in the championship. Munib did not leave empty-handed, though: she teamed up with Laiba Masoud to win the girls’ Under-18 doubles for Punjab, defeating Alja Tariq and her partner Masooma of Balochistan 21-15, 21-17.
In the younger categories, Umar Khan of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa beat Saad Amir of Punjab 21-18, 21-11 to win the boys’ Under-14 singles, while Qari Adnan of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa edged Raza Ali Adil of Punjab 21-19, 21-19 in a razor-thin boys’ Under-16 final. The girls’ Under-16 singles title went to Sumiya Tariq of Balochistan, who overpowered Zainab Chauhdry of Punjab 21-5, 21-9.
Closing Ceremony Honours the Champions
The championship concluded with a colourful closing ceremony at the venue, where Deputy Commissioner Sukkur Nadir Shehzad Khan attended as the chief guest. Trophies, certificates and cash prizes were presented to the winners and runners-up, with the young champions receiving a standing ovation from players, coaches and families who had travelled from across the country.
For many of these players, Sukkur was their first taste of a national-level final. The handshakes at the net, the medals around their necks and the photographs with the trophies are memories they will carry into every tournament that follows.
What the Results Mean for Pakistan’s Badminton Future
Beyond the medals, the National Junior Badminton Championship 2026 offered genuine encouragement about the depth of the game in Pakistan. Titles were shared between Punjab, Pakistan Army, SNGPL, Islamabad, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and WAPDA, which suggests the talent pool is wider than ever.
Junior championships like this one are the first step on the ladder. Today’s Under-14 and Under-16 champions are tomorrow’s senior circuit players, and several names from Sukkur will now be watched closely as they move up the age groups. If the hunger and the standard on display this week are anything to go by, Pakistan’s badminton future is in safe hands.
Sources: Championship results and national sports newswires published on October 23, 2026.
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