Bangladesh badminton finally had its breakthrough moment. For the first time in history, four home men’s doubles pairs stormed into the quarter-finals of an international tournament. The Yonex-Sunrise Bangladesh International Series turned into a red-and-green statement at the Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Indoor Stadium on Wednesday.
This was not luck or soft draws. Bangladesh earned every win through pace, patience and fearless net play. The home pairs played like teams who now expect to belong at this level.
Al Amin Jumar and Moazzem Hossain Ahidul led the charge with authority. They brushed aside Iran’s Amir Hossein Azamloo and Sayed Armin Zaki in straight games, controlling rallies and killing points early. Their calm under pressure set the tone for the day.
Riadul Islam and Tanoy Saha followed with a gritty three-game win over Iran’s Mehdi Ansari and Amin Hossein. They absorbed pressure, slowed the tempo when needed and trusted their defence. When the gaps opened, they struck hard.
Tanvir Ahmed and Gourab Singh turned an all-Bangladesh clash into a statement of depth. They edged past Akib Sulaiman and Shubho Khandakar with sharper net control and better shot selection. Domestic rivalry clearly raised standards rather than dividing them.
Mohammad Naim and Mizanur Rahman completed the clean sweep. They outlasted Vietnam’s Dong Khe Dong Kha and Tran Hong Kha in another demanding three-game contest. Their recovery after losing the first game showed growing mental strength.
The numbers tell the story. If even one pair reaches the semi-finals, Bangladesh will secure a medal. The ambition, though, stretches further than bronze.
Al Amin Jumar made that clear after the match. “I reached the mixed doubles final earlier, but doubles in the Challenge did not go well because my partner was injured. Now we are in the quarter-finals and I want to stop only as champions,” he said.
Ahidul echoed that hunger despite playing through discomfort. “The goal is to become champions in this series. No matter who we face, we want to play our best and reach the final,” he said.
The only setback came in women’s doubles. Top local pair Noshima Khatun and Urmi Akter bowed out after a three-game loss to Thailand. Their exit hurt, but it did not dull the shine of a landmark day.
