PETALING JAYA: India’s Tanvi Sharma announced herself on the world stage after becoming the youngest women’s singles champion in Taiwan Open history.
Tanvi defeated sixth seed Nguyen Thuy Linh of Vietnam 21-16, 21-16 in the final to capture her maiden World Tour title on Sunday at the Taipei Arena.
At just 17 years and 223 days old, she eclipsed the mark set by her idol, Tai Tzu Ying, to become the youngest player to win the Taiwan Open women’s singles title. She is about eight months younger than Tai, who won her first home title in 2012 at the age of 18 years and 109 days.
The Indian teenager admitted she was unaware she had broken the record.
“Really? I wasn’t aware of that record,” Sharma told the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
“It’s such an honour. Tai is my idol. I’m really, really happy to win this title.”
Tanvi also became only the second Indian women’s singles player to win the Taiwan Open after Saina Nehwal, who triumphed in 2008.
Her victory also made her the youngest player to win a World Tour title since Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki captured the 2024 Orleans Masters crown.
With Saina no longer on the international circuit and P. V. Sindhu still working her way back after a series of injuries, Tanvi looks poised to become the new face of Indian women’s singles.
Tanvi is coached by South Korean Park Tae-sang, the same coach who guided Sindhu to the world title in 2019.
FINAL RESULTS
Men’s singles: Yudai Okimoto (Jpn) bt Yoo Tae-bin (Kor) 21-19, 21-12.
Men’s doubles: Leo Carnando-Daniel Marthin (Ina) bt Aaron Chia-Aaron Tai (Mas) 23-21, 21-19.
Women’s singles: Tanvi Sharma (Ind) bt Thuy Linh Nguyen (Vie) 21-16, 21-16.
Women’s doubles: Sumire Nakade-Miyu Takahashi (Jpn) bt Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (Mas) 21-16, 21-18.
Mixed doubles: Yuta Watanabe-Maya Taguchi (Jpn) bt Yang Po-hsuan-Hu Ling-fang (Tpe) 21-19, 21-8.
