Top: India’s Ashmita Chaliha returning a shot to Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
SHAH ALAM: Youngster Anmol Kharb announced herself on the world stage in style after propelling India’s women’s team to the final of the Asia Team Cham–pionships.
The 17-year-old has been compared to former great Saina Nehwal in her country and proved that she has the ability to one day scale the heights of her famous compatriot when she stunned world No. 29 Natsuki Nidaira 21-14, 21-18 to give India a 3-2 win over Japan in the last four at the Setia City Convention Centre yesterday.
It was the second time that Anmol turned hero for India in the tournament after she beat Wu Luoyu to give her country a 3-2 win over China in Group W.
The victory over Nidaira was even more impressive as the Japanese is a regular in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour circuit and there was more at stake in the last four.
Anmol was overjoyed with the win.
“It was a very crucial match as the score was 2-2 but I played without pressure as this is my debut and I’m a junior player,” said Anmol.
“My teammates just told me to do my best and I’m very happy that I could win a point for my team and help us reach the final.
Pure joy: India’s Anmol Kharb celebrating after beating Japan’s Natsuki Nidaira yesterday.
“This is an important tournament for me as it is the selection for the Uber Cup and I’m thrilled to play an important role for my team.”
Japan were the favourites to reach the final even without former two-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi, who was not included in the team.
World No. 14 Aya Ohori though stepped up in Yamaguchi’s absence by toppling 2019 world champion P. V. Sindhu 21-13, 22-20 to give her team the lead.
In the doubles, world No. 23 Treesa Jolly-Gayathri Gopichand turned the table against world No. 6 Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida 21-17, 16-21, 22-20 to pull level.World No. 53 Ashmita Chaliha then gave India a 2-1 advantage with a 21-17, 21-14 upset win over 2017 world champion Nozomi Okuhara.
Japan though equalised through Rena Miyaura-Ayako Sakuramoto, who beat the scratch pairing of Sindhu and Ashwini Ponnappa 21-14, 21-11.
“I was inspired by my senior, Ashmita’s win over Okuhara,” said Anmol.
“She played a very good game and her strokes were fantastic. I was watching the game and I wanted to play the same strokes.”On her comparison with Saina, Anmol, who won the national title in her country last year when she was only 16, said: “Saina and I are from the same state in India – Haryana - and I won the national title at the same age as she did.
“Our style of play is also similar. I like to play aggressively just like her.
“It means a lot to me to be compared with Saina and I hope to follow in her footsteps.”
Anmol and her teammates will take on Thailand in the final today. The Thais beat Indonesia 3-1 in the other last four match.
The youngster is out to win the title with her country.
“We had already created history as India have never won a medal in this competition,” said Anmol.
“We have beaten superpowers like China and Japan and I’m confident that we can win the title now.
“We have a strong team and have proven that Indian women badminton is on the rise.”
