The Badminton Asian Junior Championship 2025 have turned into a historic chapter for Indian badminton, thanks to stellar performances by Tanvi Sharma and Vennala Kalagotla.
For the first time ever, India will celebrate two women’s singles medalists in the same edition of the prestigious continental event a feat that underlines the rising depth and promise of India’s next generation.
In Friday’s quarterfinal matches, second seed Tanvi Sharma secured her place in the semifinals with a composed and clinical victory over Indonesia’s Thalita Wiryawan. The match, played in front of Wiryawan’s home crowd, tested Tanvi early on, but the Indian teenager kept her composure to close out the contest 21-19, 21-14.
Tanvi’s run means she now becomes only the third Indian women’s singles player ever to win a medal at the Asian Junior Championships, after the legendary PV Sindhu, who won bronze in 2011 and gold in 2012, and her contemporary Vennala Kalagotla, who also secured her semifinal spot earlier in the day.
It marks a huge moment for Indian badminton: the first time since Lakshya Sen’s bronze in 2018 that India has had multiple medals confirmed at the tournament and the very first time both come from women’s singles.
Tanvi Sharma: Composure and Class Under Pressure
For 17-year-old Tanvi Sharma, this medal is the latest step in what has been an impressive year on the junior circuit. Currently the Junior World No. 1 and fresh off a runner-up finish at the US Open Junior, Tanvi has shown a blend of aggression and maturity beyond her years.
In her quarterfinal against Wiryawan, she faced early pressure as the Indonesian crowd rallied behind their home hope. The opening game was tight, with neither player able to build a clear lead, but Tanvi’s sharp net play and controlled aggression helped her edge it 21-19.
The second game saw Tanvi settle into her rhythm. Using quick changes of pace and deep clears to move Wiryawan around the court, she dictated rallies more confidently. As Wiryawan began to fade, Tanvi closed out the game 21-14, sealing a straight-sets win and her place in the final four.
Up next, Tanvi faces Yin Yi Qing another challenging test, but one that the Indian camp will approach with optimism, given Tanvi’s recent form and mental toughness.
A Landmark Edition for India
Earlier in the day, Vennala Kalagotla had scripted her own slice of history by defeating Thailand’s Janyap in a hard-fought quarterfinal: 21-18, 17-21, 21-17. Janyap had earlier knocked out the 2024 Junior World Champion in the Round of 16, making Vennala’s win all the more impressive.
Vennala will next face Liu Si Ya in the semifinals. Regardless of those results, both Vennala and Tanvi have already ensured medals a first in Indian badminton’s history at this event.
To understand the scale of this achievement, it’s worth remembering that before 2025, PV Sindhu was the only Indian women’s singles player to ever reach the podium at the Asian Junior Championships. For over a decade, no one else had matched that feat.
Now, in a single edition, India has two medalists. It’s a testament to years of investment in grassroots badminton, stronger domestic junior circuits, and the emergence of a new generation unafraid of the big stage.
Tanvi Sharma and Vennala Kalagotla’s medals are not just personal milestones; they represent the promise of a deeper bench in women’s singles for India.
For long, the women’s singles spotlight has rested on senior stars like PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal. Their success inspired thousands, but translating that inspiration into a pipeline of players capable of medalling at the continental and global junior level has taken time.
This breakthrough signals that India is now producing multiple players who can challenge Asia’s best. Both Tanvi and Vennala have shown resilience winning tough, three-game matches and holding nerves under pressure qualities that bode well as they prepare to step onto the senior circuit in the coming years.
For Indian fans, the semifinals promise more drama and the possibility of making history once again. If both Tanvi and Vennala win their respective semifinals, they could set up an all-Indian final something unimaginable even a few years ago.
As the tournament heads into its decisive phase, India can already celebrate:
Two women’s singles semifinalists for the first time ever
Two confirmed medals in the same discipline at the Asian Junior Championships
A new generation stepping out of the shadows of past legends
Regardless of how the semifinals unfold, this edition of the Asian Junior Championships 2025 will be remembered as the moment Indian women’s singles truly arrived at the continental level together.
Congratulations, Tanvi Sharma and Vennala Kalagotla and here’s to an even brighter future! 🇮🇳🏸✨
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