History was made at the World Junior Badminton Championships today as Tanvi Sharma guaranteed India a medal in the girls’ event after a remarkable 17-year wait. Her thrilling comeback victory over Japan’s Saki Matsumoto, with scores of 13-15, 15-9, 15-10 in the quarterfinals, secured at least a bronze medal for the young Indian shuttler.
This momentous occasion echoes the 2008 championships held in Pune, where Saina Nehwal famously won gold – a mere month before Tanvi was born! Tanvi now proudly joins an elite group of Indian female medallists, including Saina (who also secured silver in 2006) and 1996 runner-up Aparna Popat.
The 16-year-old Tanvi stepped onto the court at the National Centre of Excellence, facing a subdued home crowd. Spirits had been dampened moments earlier when fellow Indian Unnati Hooda suffered a straight-games defeat to the second-seeded Thai player, Anyapat Phichitpreechasak.
Sharma initially dominated, seizing a commanding 10-6 lead in the opening game. However, a sudden string of seven unforced errors shifted the momentum. Crucial mistakes, including misjudged tosses, a lapse in covering a Matsumoto lift, and two shots finding the net, allowed her opponent to capitalize and snatch the first game.
Undeterred, Tanvi roared back, showcasing her versatile stroke play. She expertly deployed a variety of cross-court drops and powerful down-the-line smashes to convincingly level the match.
In the deciding game, the left-handed Matsumoto initially found success with her slower-paced shots, leading 8-5 at the mid-game interval. However, a critical change of ends revitalized Tanvi. She regained control, recalibrated her strokes, and decisively shifted the momentum, ultimately securing the victory with a well-placed cross-court drop. This triumph sets up an exciting semifinal encounter against China’s Liu Si Ya, the formidable Asian junior championships silver medallist.
Meanwhile, in the boys’ singles, Tankara Gnana Dattu Talasila, India’s sole male quarterfinalist, put up a spirited fight but was eventually eliminated by China’s Liu Yang Ming Yu.
India’s pursuit of a historic first-ever doubles medal at the event concluded with straight-games losses. Bhavya Chhabra and Vishakha Toppo fell in the mixed doubles, while Bhargav Ram Arigela and Viswa Tej Gobburu exited from the boys’ doubles competition.
Here’s a summary of the Indian quarterfinal results:
- Girls’ Singles: Tanvi Sharma defeated Saki Matsumoto (Japan) 13-15, 15-9, 15-10; Anyapat Phichitpreechasak (Thailand) defeated Unnati Hooda 15-12, 15-13.
- Boys’ Singles: Liu Yang Ming Yu (China) defeated Tankara Gnana Dattu Talasila 15-11, 15-13.
- Boys’ Doubles: Chen Jun Ting & Liu Jun Rong (China) defeated Bhargav Ram Arigela & Viswa Tej Gobburu 15-12, 15-10.
- Mixed Doubles: Hung Bing Fu & Chou Yun An (Chinese Taipei) defeated Bhavya Chhabra & Vishakha Toppo 15-9, 15-7.