Top five junior Indian badminton players to watch out for

A badminton nation must prioritize the development of a strong player base and the emergence of promising junior talent to maintain its relevance in the sport. The absence of a robust depth of players or the lack of skilled junior athletes can hinder the growth of badminton within a country. For instance, Singapore and Spain have struggled to produce top-tier players, with Loh Kean Yew and Carolina Marin being notable exceptions.

France previously struggled to establish itself as a prominent badminton nation; however, it has now emerged as one of the rising countries in the sport, largely due to the talent of its junior players. Young athletes such as Alex Lanier, Toma Popov, and Christo Popov are proving to be formidable competitors.

India possesses a wealth of promising junior players; however, the critical question remains: Will these juniors be able to replicate their performance at the senior level? Historically, many Indian players have faced challenges during their transition from junior to senior competition.

Siril Verma, the 2015 World Junior Silver medalist, and Sankar Subramanian, the 2022 World Junior Silver medalist, exemplify the talent emerging from the junior ranks. Conversely, several athletes have successfully transitioned their junior achievements to the senior level, including PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, and Saina Nehwal. At present, there is a significant influx of young players in the sport.

Anmol Kharb, Unnati Hooda, Shriyanshi Valishetty, Ayush Shetty, Prannay Shettigar, Devika Sihag, and numerous other young athletes have been prominent figures in the circuit for an extended period. In addition to these well-known players, there are several lesser-known junior competitors who have been performing admirably. It is reasonable to anticipate that they may emulate the success of established players such as Sindhu, Saina, Sen, and Satwik/Chirag in the future.

In this article, let’s have a look at the top five junior Indian badminton players to watch out for.

Rounak Chouhan

The 17-year-old emerging talent, Rounak Chouhan, is a player to keep an eye on during this tournament. He recently triumphed in the Kotak India Junior International Series, where he overcame fellow countryman Laksh Chengappa Machangada Aiyappa in an exhilarating three-game final. Along the way, he also secured victories against competitors from Chinese Taipei and Indonesia. In the recently held Guwahati Masters, Rounak showcased his skills against Malaysian player Adil Sholeh, who is ranked within the top 100. Although Chouhan did not win the match, he garnered admiration for his impressive performance.

Rounak also impressed everyone in the Senior Nationals as well. He won the bronze medal in both Individual and team events. In the team event, he contributed to his team's success by winning both of his matches in straight games, ultimately aiding Chhattisgarh in achieving the bronze medal.

In the Individual event, he advanced to the semifinals, ultimately securing the bronze medal. Throughout the competition, he triumphed over several seasoned players, including a straight-game victory against the 5th seed, Saneeth Dayanand, and the 14th seed veteran, Alap Mishrah. His impressive journey concluded with a defeat to Mithun Manjunath in the semifinals.

Tanvi Sharma

The 15-year-old talent, Tanvi Sharma, is regarded as a promising future star in Indian badminton. She secured the position of runner-up in the national championships last year. Recently, Tanvi achieved the runner-up title at the Odisha Masters and has successfully entered the top 100 of the BWF world rankings.

Tanvi reached the quarterfinals at the Junior World Championships in 2024 and secured a silver medal at the 2023 U17 Asian Championships. As she matures, her potential for future success is highly anticipated. Additionally, she contributed to the women's team that claimed the gold medal at the Asian Championships in 2024.

She is currently receiving training from Park Tae-sang, the former coach of PV Sindhu, who played a significant role in her achievement of a bronze medal. Following Tanvi's second-place finish at the Odisha Masters, Sindhu expressed her excitement on Twitter, stating, “I’m thrilled for her and the amazing Coach Park! Coach Park truly has a gift for unlocking potential. Keep pushing forward, Tanvi — the sky’s the limit!”

Although Park does not accompany her to the tournament, she practices at the National Centre of Excellence (NCE). Her other coach, Sankar Annamalai, travels with her during the competitions.

Bhavya Chhabra/Param Choudhary

A noteworthy combination to monitor is the emerging doubles duo of Bhavya Chhabra and Param Choudhary. Their performance at the 2024 Junior World Championships was remarkable. The youth of this pair serves as a significant advantage, as they are both relatively young. Currently, Bhavya, aged 17, and Param, aged 16, are training under the guidance of Ivan Sozonov at the National Centre of Excellence (NCE).

In the Kotak India Junior International Series, they finished second. An additional advantage is their shared state of origin, which has fostered a strong familiarity between them; this rapport is advantageous, as synergy is crucial in doubles events. They advanced to the Round of 16 in the Senior Nationals, overcoming two senior pairs before being defeated by the fifth seed in the pre-quarterfinals.

Bhargav Ram Arigela/Viswa Tej Gobburu

One of the most promising junior pairs, Bhargav Ram Arigela and Viswa Tej Gobburu, are noteworthy players to observe. This young duo from India has made a significant impression at the Junior World Championships held this year. At just 17 years of age, they are anticipated to achieve considerable success in the future.

The duo is presently at the National Centre of Excellence (NCE), where they are under the guidance of Ivan Sozonov. Additionally, Bhargav competes in mixed doubles alongside Vennala Kalagotla.

Tanvi Patri

The 13-year-old prodigy, Tanvi Patri, stands out as the youngest player to keep an eye on. Hailing from Odisha, Tanvi has garnered significant achievements in the Junior Circuit. At this tender age, she has triumphed in the U15 and U17 All India Sub Junior Ranking tournaments on three occasions this year. Her foundational skills are robust, having begun her badminton journey in China, where her father worked as a software professional.

She had the opportunity to train with renowned Chinese coach Jiang Yong Yi. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, she secured nine titles in China. Following the pandemic, she returned to India and became a member of the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy (PPBA).

Tanvi possesses a solid foundation, which bodes well for her future prospects. This year, she also secured the U15 Asian Girls Singles title. Additionally, Tanvi achieved the position of runner-up in her inaugural Senior International tournament, the CM Trophy India International Challenge. During the competition, she triumphed over Isharani Baruah and Deepshikha Singh before ultimately being defeated by Rakshita Santhosh Ramraj in the final match.

Cover Credits - Olympics.com