Badminton Jr Worlds: Top-seed Tanvi shines even as India’s medal hopes in other categories fade

Tanvi Sharma stayed true to her top-seed billing by pulling off a stunning comeback win against Japan’s Saki Matsumoto to reach the girls’ singles semifinals of the BWF World Junior Championships at the National Centre of Excellence here on Friday. With that win, she also became the first Indian woman in 17 years to assure a medal.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

While Tanvi’s historic run keeps India in contention on the podium, hopes in other categories dimmed as eighth seed Unnati Hooda, boys’ singles contender Gnana Dattu and the mixed doubles pair Bhavya Chhabra—Vishakha Toppo all exited in the quarterfinals.

The 16-year-old Tanvi kept her nerves under pressure and found winners with her cross-court slice hits to beat Matsumoto 13-15, 15-9, 15-10 in a 47-minute quarterfinal clash that kept the spectators on edge.

The last Indian female player to win a world junior medal was Saina Nehwal, who bagged the gold medal in the 2008 edition in Pune.

Saina, who had also won a silver medal in 2006 and Aparna Popat (1996 silver) are the only other Indian female players to stand on the podium in the history of the competition.