LEUVEN (BELGIUM), SEP 15 : In a remarkable display of skill and determination, India’s rising badminton star Anmol Kharb secured her first senior international title by winning the women’s singles event at the Belgian International 2024 in Leuven on Saturday.
The 17-year-old, ranked 222nd in the BWF standings, overcame Denmark’s world No. 80 Amalie Schulz in a thrilling 59-minute final. The intense encounter, filled with rapid rallies and momentum swings, saw Anmol emerge victorious with a scoreline of 24-22, 12-21, 21-10.
“I knew it would be tough, but I trusted my game plan and stayed patient,” said Anmol after her triumph. “Winning my first senior title feels surreal, and I hope it’s just the beginning.”
The path to victory was anything but smooth for Anmol, who had to battle fiercely to reach the final. In the semi-final, she faced Bulgaria’s 68th-ranked Kaloyana Nalbantova in a gruelling three-game match. Anmol comfortably won the first game 21-13 but narrowly lost the second 24-26, before mounting an impressive comeback to win the decider 21-19 in a contest that lasted 76 minutes.
What makes her achievement even more extraordinary is the fact that she entered the main draw through the qualifiers and was unseeded. Anmol’s journey to the semi-finals saw her defeat higher-ranked opponents with poise and precision, all in straight games.
While Anmol’s triumph was the standout performance for India, there were other notable results. Darshan Pujari reached the quarter-finals in the men’s singles, while the Indian men’s doubles pair of Ishaan Bhatnagar and Sankar Prasad Udayakumar made it to the semi-finals. However, no Indian women’s doubles pairs advanced beyond the first round, and there was no Indian representation in the mixed doubles event.
Anmol’s rise has been swift. Earlier this year, she played a pivotal role in securing the Indian women’s team a historic gold medal at the 2024 Badminton Asia Team Championships in Malaysia. In that competition, she defeated Japan’s then-world No. 29 Natsuki Nidaira and Thailand’s world No. 45 Pornpicha Choeikeewong in straight games, demonstrating her ability to shine on the international stage.
Reflecting on her journey, Anmol remarked, “Winning the national championship last year was a dream come true, but this year has been about proving myself internationally. The team gold gave me a lot of confidence, and now this individual title feels like the next big step.”
At just 17 years old, Anmol has already established herself as one of India’s brightest badminton prospects. Her victory at the national championships at the age of 16 hinted at her immense potential, and her recent success in Belgium confirms that she is poised for a brilliant career on the global stage.