India secures World Junior medal after Tanvi’s dominant win

India’s top seed Tanvi Sharma booked her place in the final of the BWF World Junior Championships with an impressive victory over China’s Liu Si Ya on Saturday. The 16-year-old delivered a near-flawless performance to become only the third Indian female, after Saina Nehwal and Aparna Popat, to reach the final of this prestigious tournament.

Tanvi secured a 15-11, 15-9 win in a dominant display, ensuring India a medal at the World Junior Championships for the first time in 17 years. From the very first point, Tanvi controlled the match, showing no hesitation in executing precise flicks, cross-court pushes, and quick front-court smashes. She raced to a 7-3 lead in the opening game and maintained her composure even when Liu narrowed the gap to 8-7. Tanvi wrapped up the first game in just 13 minutes, not giving her opponent a chance to settle.

In the second game, Tanvi quickly surged to a 12-4 lead. Though she made a few mistakes in the later stages, she regained control with a perfectly timed down-the-line smash. “I was feeling very comfortable today and I am very happy with the way I played. My coach advised me to play my strokes slightly inside the lines, and it worked,” Tanvi said after the match.

Tanvi will now face second seed Anyapat Phichitpreechasak of Thailand in the final. Anyapat advanced after a hard-fought comeback, defeating compatriot Yataweemin Ketklieng 10-15, 15-11, 15-5 in the other semifinal.

In the men’s singles semifinals, Indonesia’s Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah overcame China’s Li Zhi Hang 14-16, 16-14, 15-12 in a thrilling hour-long encounter. In mixed doubles action, Chinese Taipei’s Hung Bing Fu and Chou Yun An defeated Malaysia’s top seeds Loh Ziheng and Noraqilah Maisarah 13-15, 15-12, 15-8, while Korea’s Lee Hyeong Woo and Cheon Hye In beat China’s Chen Jun Ting and Cao Zi Han 15-6, 16-14.

Semifinal Results:

Girls’ singles: Tanvi Sharma (IND) bt Liu Si Ya (CHN) 15-11, 15-9; Anyapat Phichitpreechasak (THA) bt Yataweemin Ketklieng (THA) 10-15, 15-11, 15-5 Men’s singles: Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah (INA) bt Li Zhi Hang (CHN) 14-16, 16-14, 15-12 Mixed doubles: Hung Bing Fu/Chou Yun An (TPE) bt Loh Ziheng/Noraqilah Maisarah (MAS) 13-15, 15-12, 15-8; Lee Hyeong Woo/Cheon Hye In (KOR) bt Chen Jun Ting/Cao Zi Han (CHN) 15-6, 16-14

Tanvi’s clinical semifinal performance sets the stage for a thrilling final and continues India’s growing legacy in junior badminton.