India’s badminton prodigy Tanvi Sharma faltered at the last step of history, losing in straight games to Thailand’s Anyapat Phichitpreechasak in the women’s singles final of the BWF World Junior Championships in Guwahati on Sunday. The 16-year-old conceded 7-15, 12-15 to the second-seeded Thai, securing a hard-earned silver medal, the first for India in 17 years since Saina Nehwal’s gold in 2008.
Tanvi is just the third shuttler after Nehwal and Aparna Popat to reach the final of the tournament. Nehwal (gold in 2008 and silver in 2006) and Popat (silver in 1996) are the only other Indian women to have won medals at the prestigious event. She made it to the stage by beating China’s Liu Si Ya 15-11, 15-9 in dominating straight games.
The World Junior
number one became the first Indian shuttler to win multiple medals in a single edition of the Championships, having already won bronze in the mixed team event at the 2025 edition to add to her silver in the singles.
How Phichitpreechasak Beat Tanvi
The final began evenly, with both players locked in a close contest as the score moved from 2-2 to 4-4, each benefitting from the other’s errors.
Soon after, Phichitpreechasak’s deceptive placements began to unsettle Tanvi, as the Thai shuttler raced ahead 10-5 with sharp front-court play.
Two powerful smashes and a misjudged shot from Tanvi handed Phichitpreechasak the first game, which she clinched when another of Tanvi’s backhands hit the net.
Switching sides seemed to rejuvenate Tanvi, who started the second game strongly with deep, precise returns to lead 6-1. But the advantage slipped as a few net errors helped her opponent close in.
Tanvi still led 8-5 at the break, but Phichitpreechasak soon found her rhythm again, drawing Tanvi forward with clever drops and forcing mistakes to turn the tide.
Once the Thai edged ahead 11-8, she began dictating play with composed rallies and timely smashes. Tanvi fought back with delicate net play and even won a disputed point, but at 9-13, she faltered again.
Phichitpreechasak squandered one championship point before sealing victory emphatically with a booming smash, capping off a clinical performance.
(With PTI Inputs)
