Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto successfully defended their women’s doubles title at the Guwahati Masters, a BWF Tour Super 100 tournament, on Sunday. The Indian pair, seeded first, defeated China’s Li Hua Zhou and Wang Zi Meng in straight games, 21-18, 21-12, to secure their second consecutive title at the event.
The world No. 16 duo started strong, racing to an 8-2 lead in the opening game. Although the Chinese pair fought back to trail narrowly at 10-11 by the mid-game interval and stayed close until 18-19, the Indians held their nerve to claim the final two points and win the first game.
In the second game, Ashwini and Tanisha turned up the heat with a seven-point streak, establishing a commanding 15-6 lead. From there, the Indian duo dominated, sealing the match in just 43 minutes and retaining their crown.
Sathish Kumar Karunakaran Triumphs in Men’s Singles
In the men’s singles final, India’s Sathish Kumar Karunakaran claimed a convincing victory over Chinese qualifier Zhu Xuan Chen. The 23-year-old third seed won 21-17, 21-14 to secure his second BWF Super 100 title, having previously won the Odisha Masters last year.
Sathish’s composed performance summed up his growing reputation in the international circuit. Despite the qualifier’s spirited resistance, Sathish remained in control throughout the match, using precise shots and consistent gameplay to clinch the title.
Anmol Kharb Falls Short in Women’s Singles Final
India’s 17-year-old sensation Anmol Kharb came agonizingly close to winning her maiden Super 100 title in the women’s singles final. Facing Chinese qualifier Cai Yan Yan, Anmol took the first game 21-14 but was unable to maintain her momentum.
Cai rallied to take the next two games 21-13, 21-19 in a tightly contested battle that lasted one hour and 18 minutes.
Despite the loss, Anmol’s performance showed her potential as a rising star in Indian badminton.
The Guwahati Masters 2024 was a testament to India’s growing prowess in badminton, with multiple players reaching the finals across categories. While Ashwini and Tanisha’s consistent dominance in women’s doubles stood out, the emergence of players like Sathish and Anmol highlights the depth of talent in Indian badminton.
As the season progresses, these performances are sure to boost the confidence of Indian shuttlers on the global stage.
