Guwahati: India’s top seed Tanvi Sharma stormed into the final of the BWF World Junior Championships in Guwahati on Saturday with a commanding win over China’s Liu Si Ya, scripting another golden chapter in Indian badminton history.
The 16-year-old prodigy, who has already secured India’s first medal at the event in 17 years, displayed remarkable composure and precision to defeat Liu 15-11, 15-9.
With this victory, Tanvi became only the third Indian woman—after Saina Nehwal and Aparna Popat—to reach the final of the prestigious tournament.
Tanvi will face Thailand’s second seed Anyapat Phichitpreechasak in the title clash.
Anyapat earned her place in the final after rallying from a game down to overcome compatriot Yataweemin Ketklieng 10-15, 15-11, 15-5 in the other semifinal.
From the very first point, Tanvi took control of the semifinal, mixing deft flicks and sharp cross-court pushes to keep Liu on the defensive.
She built an early 7-3 lead in the opening game and never allowed her opponent to settle, wrapping up the first game in just 13 minutes.
In the second, she raced ahead 12-4 before sealing the match with a series of perfectly placed smashes.
“I felt very comfortable today and am really happy with how I played,” Tanvi said after the win.
“There was a short phase in the second game when I made some mistakes, but my coach advised me to keep my strokes a bit tighter inside the lines, and that made the difference.”
ALSO READ: Massive fire erupts at Dhaka Airport cargo complex, flights suspended
In the men’s singles, Indonesia’s Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah overcame China’s Li Chi Hang 14-16, 16-14, 15-12 in a thrilling, hour-long encounter.
Men’s singles: Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah (Indonesia) bt Li Zhi Hang (China) 14-16, 16-14, 15-12.
Girls’ singles: Tanvi Sharma (India) bt Liu Si Ya (China) 15-11, 15-9; Anyapat Phichitpreechasak (Thailand) bt Yataweemin Ketklieng (Thailand) 10-15, 15-11, 15-5.
Mixed doubles: Hung Bing Fu/Chou Yun An (Chinese Taipei) bt Loh Ziheng/Noraqilah Maisarah (Malaysia) 13-15, 15-12, 15-8; Lee Hyeong Woo/Cheon Hye In (Korea) bt Chen Jun Ting/Cao Zi Han (China) 15-6, 16-14.
