BWF World Junior Championships 2025: Tanvi Sharma enters semifinals to keep Indian challenge alive

Tanvi Sharma ensured that an Indian girl will stand on the podium at the BWF World Junior Championships after 17 years as she defeated Japan’s Saki Matsumoto 13-15, 15-9, 15-10 in the quarterfinals in Guwahati on Friday, thus confirming at least a bronze medal.

Coincidentally, the last time an Indian girl won a medal at the event was also at home when Sainia Nehwal bagged gold in Pune in 2008, a month before Tanvi was born.

Tanvi joined Saina — who also won a silver in 2006 — and 1996 runner-up Aparna Popat on the list of female Indian medallists.

The 16-year-old Tanvi entered the arena at the National Centre of Excellence with a sparse home crowd in a downbeat mood after Unnati Hooda went down in straight games to second-seeded Thai Anyapat Phichitpreechasak.

The host’s hopes of a historic first-ever doubles medal also ended with straight-games defeats for Bhavya Chhabra and Vishakha Toppo in mixed, and Bhargav Ram Arigela and Viswa Tej Gobburu in boys’ events.
| Photo Credit:
RITURAJ KONWAR

The top-seeded Indian raced to a 10-6 lead in the opener before jeopardy struck as she committed seven straight unforced errors. She failed to control her tosses, had a lapse in judgement regarding a lift from Matsumoto and twice found the net with loose returns. Matsumoto duly converted her advantage to take the first game.

Tanvi levelled the tie as she showed her strokemaking ability, producing a range of cross-court drops and down-the-line smashes.

Left-handed Matsumoto led 8-5 at the mid-game interval in the decider with her slow-paced shots troubling the Indian. But the final change of ends allowed Tanvi to have a better control on her own strokes and shift the momentum towards her side. She sealed the win with a cross-court drop, setting up a semifinal clash with China’s Liu Si Ya, the Asian Junior Championships silver medallist.

Tankara Gnana Dattu Talasila, the only Indian boy to reach the quarterfinals, showed late resistance before being knocked out by China’s Liu Yang Ming Yu.

The host’s hopes of a historic first-ever doubles medal also ended with straight-games defeats for Bhavya Chhabra and Vishakha Toppo in mixed, and Bhargav Ram Arigela and Viswa Tej Gobburu in boys’ events.

Published on Oct 17, 2025