Mumbai (Gurpreet Singh): Teenage badminton sensation Tanvi Sharma from Hoshiarpur scripted history on Sunday by capturing the BWF Taipei Open Super 300 women’s singles title. At just 17 years and 222 days old, she became the youngest champion in the tournament’s history, surpassing the record previously held by Taiwanese legend Tai Tzu Ying. The young Indian shuttler delivered a commanding performance to defeat Vietnam’s sixth seed Nguyen Thuy Linh in straight games, 21-16, 21-16, in the championship final to secure the biggest crown of her career.
The triumphant performance ended India’s 18-year title drought in the women’s singles category at the Taipei Open, marking the country’s first victory in the event since Saina Nehwal’s historic title in 2008. Tanvi’s milestone victory caps an extraordinary rise on the international circuit. Having achieved the World Junior No. 1 ranking, earned multiple international junior medals, and broken into the top 35 of the senior BWF world rankings, the Hoshiarpur native has firmly established herself among the fastest-rising talents in world badminton. Central to her success is her mother and coach, Meena Sharma, whose years of dedication and personal sacrifices laid the groundwork for Tanvi’s journey from local courts in Punjab to the international podium.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann lauded Tanvi for her landmark achievement, calling it a moment of immense pride for the entire state. In a message shared on social media, he expressed hope that the young athlete would continue reaching new heights in world sports and bringing honour to the nation. Punjab Badminton Association Secretary Ritin Khanna also celebrated the result as a monumental milestone for regional sports, noting that Tanvi’s success serves as an inspiring example for aspiring young shuttlers and parents across the country. District Sports Officer Surjit Singh similarly extended congratulations, highlighting the historic win as a landmark event for Hoshiarpur.
