Sports

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; August 5: The confidence of winning her maiden BWF World Tour title at the Taipei Open last week, India’s 17-year-old third seed Tanvi Sharma began her Korea Masters campaign on a winning note on Wednesday. The young Indian shuttler defeated China’s Yuan An Qi in straight games, winning 21-16, 21-15 in the women’s singles opening round in Asan to book her place in the second round.

Tanvi, who has been enjoying an impressive run on the international circuit, looked composed throughout the contest. She maintained control over the rallies and handled the crucial moments effectively to overcome her Chinese opponent. After taking the opening game 21-16, Tanvi continued to apply pressure in the second game and eventually closed out the match 21-15.

The victory marks another positive step in what has been a breakthrough period for the young Indian player. Her triumph at the Taipei Open last week had already boosted her confidence, and she carried that momentum into the Korea Masters. As the third seed, Tanvi will now look to continue her strong run and progress deeper into the tournament.

Tanvi’s second-round opponent will be fellow Indian shuttler Shriyanshi Valishetty. Shriyanshi secured her place in the next round after defeating Chinese Taipei’s Pai Yu-Po 21-15, 21-14. The all-Indian contest will provide Tanvi with another important challenge as she looks to build on her recent success.

The Korea Masters has also witnessed a notable performance from another Indian combination. The biggest upset for India in the tournament so far came on Tuesday in the men’s doubles, when Prithvi Krishnamurthy Roy and Krishna Prasad Garaga stunned Thailand’s fourth-seeded pair of Worapol Thongsa-nga and Chaloempon Charoenkijthamorn in the opening round.

Ranked 118th in the world, the Indian duo produced a confident performance against their higher-ranked Thai opponents, who are currently placed 48th in the world rankings. Roy and Garaga completed the upset in 42 minutes, winning 21-16, 21-18 to secure their place in the second round.

The victory over the fourth-seeded Thai combination is an encouraging result for the Indian men’s doubles pair, who showed composure and determination despite facing opponents ranked significantly higher than them. Their ability to maintain control during the key stages of both games helped them secure a straight-game victory.

For Indian badminton, Tanvi’s progress in women’s singles and the success of Roy and Garaga in men’s doubles have provided an encouraging start to the Korea Masters. Tanvi, in particular, will attract considerable attention after her breakthrough title win at the Taipei Open. The 17-year-old has quickly emerged as one of India’s promising young talents, and her performance in Korea will be closely watched.

With Tanvi set to face Shriyanshi Valishetty in the second round, the tournament will guarantee another Indian presence in the next stage of the women’s singles competition. Both players will be determined to make the most of the opportunity and secure a place in the following round.

Roy and Garaga will also aim to carry the momentum from their opening-round upset into their next match. Their victory over the fourth-seeded Thai pair has strengthened India’s campaign in the men’s doubles event and raised hopes of another strong performance.

With several Indian players looking to make an impact, the Korea Masters is shaping up to be another important tournament for the country’s emerging badminton stars. Tanvi’s impressive start, backed by her recent Taipei Open triumph, has added further excitement to India’s campaign in the prestigious event.