Anyone who is anybody in badminton in the last two decades from the continent, has a medal from the Asian Junior Championships, an event the Chinese set a lot of store by.
So, when Tanvi Sharma and Vennala Kalagotla picked bronzes in the latest edition on Saturday at Solo, Indonesia, losing to two Chinese in the semis, it cranked back into active-mode the wheel of women’s singles in Indian badminton – 13 years after PV Sindhu last won the title. Vennala, hailing from the same railway colony in Secunderabad as Sindhu once did, is even built rangy and tall like the senior pro, standing at 5 foot-8 inches at 17.
While Sharma has been making waves in seniors, the Hyderabad shuttler Vennala, was a revelation with her mix of outrageous reflexive defense and a proper power smash. The Chinese opponent, Liu Si Ya could not be tamed in the 21-15, 21-18 loss, but Vennala made a match of it saving three match points and showing solid prospects with her surprisingly combative game this week.
Partnering Anmol Kharb in doubles when she won the Krishna Khaitan event, Vennala is a daughter of a Railways ticket collector, also a ball badminton player. The team sport, quite popular in the south of India and mighty fun to play, has some seriously good athletes in southern Railways teams, and Vennala along with her brother, were packed off to shuttle badminton that has consolidated as a culture in Hyderabad’s sports clubs. She started at 8, and moved to Pullela Gopichand Academy subsequently.
“I was bored sitting at home, so we were packed off to play badminton 800 metres from my Railway colony home. My father wants us to win at the Olympics. I play doubles too but focus is on singles,” she said. “It’s my first medal in internationals but I could have played better,” she says.
The Chinese turn up at their best at the Asian Juniors, and Vennala said she realised she ought to have pushed a gear in the semis. “After the match I realised I should have played faster and more aggressive.” Determined to keep the shuttle in play, she had told herself not to try any adventurous strokes.
She candidly says she’s not big on academics. “I think studies are a big burden, but I love playing other sports – swimming, TT, and painting.”
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For Tanvi, who trains at the National Centre in Guwahati, it was an amazing run till the semis, where far too many unforced errors brought about a 21-13, 21-14 loss to another Chinese Yin Yi Qing. A 6-1 lead in the second set was not enough to hold off the opponent, a former World Juniors silver medallist with good smashes and net deceptions. “It’s great to win a medal after 13 years at Asian. I played well but made quite a few unforced errors.”
The two Indians are similar not just in winning bronzes, but their sporty background too. While Tanvi’s mother is a volleyball player, Vennala’s father aced ball badminton. “It’s a different sport, team sport, but has some similar strokes. It helps to have an athlete parent, because they understand the pressure and don’t scold. You become sporty and stay confident even if you lose unexpectedly,” Vennala said, while Tanvi added, “We get motivated to give our best watching them.”
While Tanvi reckons Vennala’s defense and aggressive smashes are particularly piercing, the taller shuttler says, “I love Tanvi’s forehand cross drops and half smashes. But she gets disappointed easily if she loses a few points in a row. My advice to her will be to keep chin up,” she says.
Facing the Chinese can be a daunting experience, but the Indians have their own takeaways from the Asian semis. “It’s my first semis so I was overwhelmed. But it wasn’t as tough as I expected,” Tanvi said. “We just fear their name, but they are OK only. Yes physically I thought I was weaker, so I will focus on it.”
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For Vennala, the opponent was temperamentally sturdy. “I think they are just strong by mind. They win on mental strength,” she said.
Both Tanvi and Vennala were looking forward to celebrating bronze with one cheat meal. “Ice cream!” they chorused.
