Manipur’s Priya Konjengbam Becomes First Women’s Doubles Player from NE to Qualify for All England Badminton Championship

Priya Konjengbam will play alongside Shruti Mishra as her doubles partner in the tournament, which is being held at Birmingham

By Moirangthem Nganbarel

Manipur’s star shuttler Priya Konjengbam has made history by becoming the first women’s doubles player from Manipur and the entire Northeast region to qualify for the prestigious All England Badminton Championship 2025.

Priya Konjengbam will play alongside Shruti Mishra as her doubles partner in the tournament, which is being held at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena in England from March 11 to 16, 2025.

Priya and Shruti are set to play today against the top-seeded Korean pair, Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee, who currently lead the women’s doubles world rankings. This will mark Priya’s fourth international match of the year.

Speaking to Northeast Live from Birmingham, Priya Konjengbam expressed her excitement and gratitude for this opportunity. “I feel very lucky to be participating in this championship. Our opponents are among the top-ranked players in the world. Winning or losing is secondary — we have a lot to learn from this experience. All the skills I’ve learned during training will be put to use in this match,” Priya said.

Priya began the year on a strong note, securing third place at the Iran International Challenge. She also reached the Round of 16 at the German Open and the Round of 32 at the Orléans Masters Badminton in France. Her next challenge will be at the Swiss Open 2025, starting on March 18.

Hailing from Moirang Phairembam Leikai in Manipur, Priya Konjengbam has been a rising star in Indian badminton. She played a crucial role in India’s historic victory at the Asian Badminton Women’s Team Championship 2024, held in Malaysia from February 12 to 18. The Indian team defeated Thailand 3-2 in a thrilling final to secure the title for the first time in history.

Priya’s achievement is being celebrated across Manipur and the Northeast, inspiring a new generation of athletes from the region. Her success marks a significant milestone for Indian badminton and reinforces the growing presence of players from the Northeast on the global stage.

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