India shuttler Bornil Aakash Changmai, 13, who became the second player from the country after Siril Verma (2013) to win a gold at the Badminton Asia U-17 and U-15 Junior Championships in Chengdu, China, wants to play in the higher age group (U-17) category from next year. The Assam player says his win in the U-15 event at China has given the confidence to make a switch despite having a year left in the U-15 age group.  Bornil’s achievement has come a decade after Siril’s feat. In the final in China, Bornil defeated Fan Hong Xuan of China 21-19, 21-13.

Meanwhile, Bornil, who arrived from China last week, said he will next play the All India Junior Sub Junior (U-15 & U-17) Ranking Badminton Tournament in Bangalore (November 28-December 5). “I still have another year in U-15, but I plan to start playing in the U-17 and U-19 categories from next year. I am confident of playing against my seniors. I know that initially it could be tough, but I play in the U-17 category at the All India ranking tournament,” Bornil, a class VIII student of the Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sivsagar, Assam, told www.mid-day.com.