CHENNAI: In the India Open that was held just last month, there were no representatives from the country in the women's singles in the absence of PV Sindhu. Given India's illustrious history in women's singles, it was a noticeable miss. With young shuttlers yet to get used to the rigours of the sport at the highest level, there are question marks as to who will step up in the years to come.
While the answer to that might take a healthy dosage of Ws against elite players on the circuit, Anmol Kharb, after being one of the standouts in the ongoing Badminton Asia Team Championships in Shah Alam (Malaysia), has demonstrated promise. While it might be too premature to mention her name in this conversation, the 17-year-old from Haryana has definitely generated interest and excitement with her display in the last few days. In a do-or-die match on Saturday, she upset World No 29 Natsuki Nidaira, helping India beat Japan 3-2 in the process. That victory also helped India reach the final of the continental event for the first time ever.
Former national chief coach U Vimal Kumar, who was watching Anmol's game up close, was certainly impressed. "Great day. Anmol really stands out. The way she played in the first match... and the way she played against the Japanese player, it was impressive," Vimal told this daily. "For a 17-year-old representing the country for the first time in a big event, that's a very good sign. We need to invest more on such talents and support them and ensure that they can come up," he added. Vimal is someone who understands what it takes to be a winner having guided someone like Saina Nehwal in the past.
Ashmita Chaliha was the other big winner of the day for India. She beat former World No 1 and Rio Olympics bronze medallist Nozomi Okuhara. Sindhu, who's on a comeback trail, had lost the crucial opening women's singles tie and Ashmita had put India ahead with her win. Her two wins in three matches is a welcome result. "I was highly impressed with Ashmita as well. She has always shown plenty of promise but in the last couple of months, she has been bringing some decent results."
Known for her attacking game, the southpaw from Guwahati is one of the familiar names in the country's talent pool in the national circuit. In fact, Vimal had wanted to bring her to Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy (PPBA) in 2019 after watching her weave the magic with her racquet in the nationals in Guwahati. However, she is yet to get a firm grip of the sport at the elite level. At 24, she might be behind (at world level), but these wins could definitely propel her and renew her ambitions.
"This is the best I have seen her (Ashmita) play. In every department of the game, I thought Ashmita was better. The way she was stroking the shuttle, the attacking style she displayed was impressive," Vimal noted. "Both (Anmol & Ashmita) of them have shown a lot of character," Vimal said.
The doubles players — Treesa Jolly, Gayatri Gopichand, Ashwini Ponnappa, Tanisha Crasto — have also been influential in Malaysia and this bodes well for India going forward.Having already made history, the women's team will be hopeful of signing off with a gold medal around their neck. They'll be up against Thailand, who beat Indonesia 3-1 in the other semifinal.
Semifinal results: India bt Japan 3-2: WS1: Aya Ohori bt PV Sindhu 21-13, 22-20; Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gophichand bt Nami Matsuyama/Chiharu Shida 21-17, 16-21, 22-20; Ashmita Chaliha bt Nozomi Okuhara 21-17, 21-14; Rena Miyaura/Ayako Sakuramoto bt Ashwini Ponnappa/Sindhu 21-14, 21-11; Anmol Kharb bt Natsuki Nidaira 21-14, 21-18.