The wait for India’s next junior world champion in badminton continues, but a new star has firmly emerged. Sixteen-year-old Tanvi Sharma announced her arrival on the global stage with a silver medal finish at the BWF World Junior Championships 2025 in India becoming only the third Indian after Aparna Popat (1996) and Saina Nehwal (2006 & 2008) to medal in the women’s singles category.
Tanvi’s campaign ended with a 7–15, 12–15 defeat in the final to Thailand’s Anyapat Phichitpreechasak, a talented shuttler who had earlier stopped Unnati Hooda’s progress in the quarterfinals. While the final didn’t go Tanvi’s way, the result capped off a remarkable week that reaffirmed India’s growing presence in world junior badminton. The match began under immense pressure for Tanvi. Facing the local favourite, Anyapat, she struggled to find rhythm early in the first game.
Anyapat’s flat, precise drives and deceptive half-smashes kept Tanvi on the back foot, forcing errors from the Indian teenager. The Thai shuttler dominated the first game 15–7, capitalising on Tanvi’s hesitation in the front court exchanges. The second game, however, told a different story at least initially. Tanvi started brilliantly, racing to a 6–1 lead, displaying sharp net play and better control over the rallies. Her aggression and intent were evident, as she mixed up quick pushes with well-timed drops. But from an 8–5 advantage, the match turned sharply. Anyapat went on a seven-point run, feeding off Tanvi’s nervous unforced errors.
The Indian appeared to rush her smashes and mistimed several clears, losing her early composure. Once Anyapat regained control at 13–10, she never looked back, sealing the championship in straight games.
While the loss will sting, the silver medal marks a landmark achievement in Indian badminton’s developmental ladder. It ends a 17-year drought for India in women’s singles at the World Juniors since Saina Nehwal’s gold in Pune back in 2008. More importantly, it validates Tanvi’s steady rise over the past two seasons across the junior circuit.
Her composure through the week stood out. Tanvi defeated five opponents en-route to the final, including two Chinese players Sun Li Yuan and Liu Si Ya as well as Japan’s Saki Matsumoto in the quarterfinals. Each of those matches showed a different layer of her game resilience, court intelligence, and adaptability against varying styles.
In the semifinals, she produced one of her finest displays, outclassing Liu Si Ya 2–0 in a near-flawless performance built around calm control and smart shot placement. That victory ensured a silver at minimum, already etching her name alongside India’s badminton greats. But Tanvi wasn’t done until the final whistle in Bangkok.
Her success also underscores India’s improving depth in junior badminton. After years dominated by Asian powerhouses like China, Japan, and Thailand, the Indian contingent led by Tanvi made a significant statement. Her medal was part of India’s best overall performance since 2008, when the nation had finished with one gold and one bronze on home soil.
Still only 16, Tanvi already holds a remarkable junior résumé silver at the 2023 Asian U17 Championships, bronze at the 2024 Asian Junior Championships, and now silver at the World Juniors. It’s a progression that speaks of consistency and a clear trajectory toward the senior elite circuit. Her game, though still developing, carries a distinct maturity. Technically sound, with compact strokes and tactical awareness, she plays with an all-court balance that mirrors some of India’s best women’s singles players in recent years. What sets her apart is her temperament a quality that carried her through the grueling five-match run before the final.
The loss to Anyapat will serve as a learning experience. Junior finals often test not just skill, but nerves and Tanvi’s anxious play in crunch moments reflected the weight of the occasion. But in the long view, this result will fuel her transition to the next level. With the right guidance and exposure, Tanvi Sharma could be India’s next women’s singles contender on the senior world tour.
As the dust settles in Guwahati, the silver around her neck represents more than a runner-up finish it symbolizes India’s continued fight to reclaim its legacy in women’s singles badminton. From Aparna Popat to Saina Nehwal, and now Tanvi Sharma, the lineage continues. The wait for the next world champion may stretch a little longer, but India’s found its next hope.
