Tanvi Sharma wins silver at the World Junior Championships

Tanvi Sharma and Thailand’s Anyapat Phichitpreechasak started warming up on adjacent practice courts at the National Centre of Excellence, ahead of their BWF World Junior Championships final.

Tanvi, looking to become only the second Indian ever after Saina Nehwal (Pune, 2008) to win gold, stayed focused on her stretching and drills while also receiving high-fives from teammates and blessings from various host officials. For Phichitpreechasak, there were no such interruptions.

One-and-a-half hours later, face to face on the Centre Court, the second seed silenced a near-capacity crowd as she clinically defeated the top-seeded Indian 15-7, 15-12 in 28 minutes to become the Junior World Champion. She is the third Thai girl after the legendary Ratchanok Intanon (2009-11) and Pitchamon Opatniput (2023) to stand at the top of the podium.