17-year-old Anmol Kharb scripted history as she steered India to their first-ever final in the Badminton Asia Team Championships. The youngster defeated 29th-ranked Natsuki Nidaira to make the historic feat as stalwarts like PV Sindhu and Ashwini Ponnappa failed at the curb. Kharb even played a pivotal role when India defeated China 3-2 to reach the quarters of the continental show piece.
Hailing from Haryana, Kharb’s journey into badminton began under the influence of her elder brother, Hardik, who initially introduced her to the sport. However, when her brother shifted his focus to academics, Kharb took the bold step of pursuing badminton seriously on her own. Starting at Dayanand Public School in Faridabad, she later honed her skills at the Sunrise Shuttlers Academy in Noida.
In her early years of competition, Kharb displayed promise, reaching the quarterfinals of the U-13 Sub-Junior Nationals and making significant strides in the U-17 and U-19 categories.
Her breakthrough came in 2019 when she clinched her maiden U-17 All India Ranking title and was impressed with a semi-final finish in the Senior All India Ranking tournament.
Continuing her upward trajectory, Kharb’s achievements in the following season included reaching the pre-quarters in the Asian Junior Championships and securing the U-17 crown at the Sub-Junior Nationals. Notably, she also demonstrated her doubles prowess by winning the girls’ doubles title alongside Vennala K of Telangana.
With determination and talent driving her, Anmol Kharb stands poised to make a significant impact on the badminton circuit, showcasing the potential to follow in the footsteps of her idol, Saina Nehwal.
