India’s impressive run at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships came to a historic end on Saturday in Solo, Indonesia, as Tanvi Sharma and Vennala Kalagotla bowed out in the women’s singles semifinals. Despite the losses, both young shuttlers earned bronze medals — marking the first time India has won two women’s singles medals in the same edition of the continental event.
Vennala, unseeded and fearless throughout the tournament, faced China’s Si Ya Liu in the first semifinal. Liu dominated early, racing to a 14-7 lead in the first game. Vennala fought back valiantly, narrowing the gap by winning eight of the next 11 points. But Liu stayed composed and sealed the game with a late four-point burst. The second game saw the Indian push Liu in a closer contest until 15-14, before the Chinese player broke away and closed out the match on her fourth match point with a 21-15, 21-18 victory in just 37 minutes.
In the second semifinal, junior world No. 1 Tanvi Sharma was handed a tough lesson in consistency by eighth-seeded Yin Yi Qing, who ranks 73rd in the junior world rankings. The Chinese shuttler defeated Tanvi 21-13, 21-14 in 35 minutes.
Tanvi, who gained international attention after her runner-up finish at last month’s US Open Super 300 tournament, kept pace with Yin until 13-13 in the first game. But a streak of eight unanswered points from the Chinese ended the opener swiftly. The 16-year-old Indian then came out strong in the second, surging to a 6-1 lead. However, Yin stayed within striking distance and edged ahead by the interval. Once she gained the lead, Yin maintained control to book an all-Chinese final against Liu.
While the day ended in defeats, the performances of Tanvi and Vennala represent a breakthrough moment for Indian junior badminton. Their semifinal finishes not only demonstrated the depth of young talent in the country but also placed India firmly on the map in the women’s singles category at the Asian level.
With two historic bronze medals in hand, India’s campaign in Solo concludes on a proud note — and signals a bright future for its rising stars.
