Tanvi Sharma becomes fifth Indian to reach BWF World Junior Championships final

Tanvi Sharma scripted history on Saturday, storming into the girls’ singles final of the BWF World Junior Championships 2025 in Guwahati with a straight-games win — 15-11, 15-9 — over China’s Asian Junior Championships silver medallist Liu Si Ya.

Tanvi, the top seed, will face second seed Anyapat Phichitpreechasak of Thailand in the title clash on Sunday.

With the win, the 16-year-old became only the fifth Indian to reach a World Juniors final — joining an elite list that includes Aparna Popat (1996), Saina Nehwal (2006, 2008), Siril Verma (2015), and Sankar Muthusamy (2022).

Tanvi had already ensured India a medal with her quarterfinal victory on Friday. She is also the first Indian female shuttler since Saina’s 2008 gold to win a World Junior Championships medal — ending a 17-year wait on home soil. Tanvi fought back from a game down to beat Japan’s Saki Matsumoto 13-15, 15-9, 15-10 in 47 minutes.

Published on Oct 18, 2025