In a week where Indian badminton had its fair share of letdowns and unforced exits, one name stood out Tanvi Sharma, the 16-year-old rising star from Punjab who just pulled off one of the biggest wins of her career at the YONEX US Open 2025.
Facing Vietnam’s Thuy Linh Nguyen, the second seed and world no. 23, Tanvi ranked 66 in the world was expected to put up a fight, perhaps stretch the match, and bow out with a learning experience. What she delivered instead was a statement victory. In straight games. In just 35 minutes. 21-19, 21-9.
A Gritty Comeback, Then Total Domination
It wasn’t all smooth sailing. In the opening game, Tanvi trailed 5-12, struggling to find her rhythm against Nguyen’s deceptive pace and court coverage. But the teen didn’t panic. She adjusted, found her groove, and closed the game 21-19 with six straight points under pressure, showcasing calm that belied her age.
The second game? A masterclass.
Tanvi ran Nguyen ragged with steep drops, precise lines, and a pace that flipped the momentum. From 5-12 in Game 1 to 21-9 in Game 2, she looked like the seasoned campaigner not the teenager making her US Open debut. Her attacking instincts clicked, her court sense was razor-sharp, and most notably, her temperament stood tall against a player who has troubled top-tier opponents on the world circuit.
From Quiet Breakthrough to Global Buzz
For those tracking her rise, this wasn’t entirely unexpected. Tanvi has been bubbling under the surface for a while. At 15.9, she made the Super 100 final in Odisha a rare feat for someone that young. Fast forward to 2025, and she became the youngest Indian to win a BWF Super 300 title earlier this season. Now, with this first-round win in California, she has launched herself into the Round of 16 in a loaded Super 300 field.
This isn’t just a good patch of form it’s a breakthrough year.
Rising as Others Fall
Tanvi’s win comes in stark contrast to the broader mood in Indian badminton right now. The US Open has already seen a flurry of first-round exits including big names like Priyanshu Rajawat, Kidambi Srikanth, and the top-seeded mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto. That’s not even counting the disappointment of India’s mixed pair losing to unseeded Guatemalan opponents.
In the women’s singles draw, Tanvi is now part of a slim list of Indian players still standing. Aakarshi Kashyap and Anmol Kharb also progressed, but neither faced the level of opposition Tanvi did. Shriyanshi Valishetti, Ira Sharma, and others bowed out early.
The contrast is telling. Where seniors struggled to finish matches, Tanvi kept her composure, built pressure, and closed strong.
A Glimpse Into the Future
Born in December 2008, Tanvi is still just 16.5 years old. She’s set to play both the Asian Junior Championships and World Junior Championships later this year, but she’s already showing she can hold her own at the senior level.
What makes her special?
- Technical versatility: From quick flicks to sharp cross drops, she uses the full court with intelligence.
- Match IQ: Her ability to read Nguyen’s game and adapt mid-rally was key to the comeback.
- Fightback mentality: Not every player fights back from 5-12 down against a seeded player. Fewer still go on to dominate the next game 21-9.
- Fearlessness: Most players playing their first major Super 300 tournament would have nerves. Tanvi had intent.
These are rare qualities, especially in someone so young. And the badminton world has noticed.
Tanvi’s next challenge comes in the Round of 16, where she’ll face Pitchamon Opatniputh from Thailand. It’s another tricky fixture, but one that she’s fully capable of handling if she keeps this momentum going.
Win or lose, Tanvi has already announced her arrival to the international stage. And if this week is any indicator, Indian badminton fans have found a genuine contender for the future — not just in juniors, but across the global circuit.
The Bigger Picture
While Ayush Shetty managed a first-round win and Tharun Mannepalli produced a gritty three-game comeback, India’s men’s singles campaign has lacked firepower. The women’s singles scene, too, seems in transition, with several former mainstays struggling for rhythm.
In that context, Tanvi’s rise feels refreshing. It’s not often that a 16-year-old takes down a top-25 player on a senior BWF circuit stage. And when she does it with such flair, the performance becomes more than just a result it becomes a signal that a new name is ready to take the baton forward.
Tanvi Sharma isn’t just one to watch she’s already showing what the future of Indian badminton looks like.
