In a landmark moment for Indian badminton, a teenage sensation from Rajasthan has etched his name in the history books. Sanskar Saraswat clinched the men's singles title at the Guwahati Masters BWF World Super 100 tournament on Sunday, becoming the first-ever shuttler from his state to achieve this remarkable feat.
A Historic Victory Against All Odds
The 19-year-old from Jodhpur sealed the historic win with a deep push that landed just inside the baseline, converting his second match point against Mithun Manjunath. The final, which lasted 50 minutes, saw Sanskar dominate for large parts, securing a 21-11, 17-21, 21-13 victory. This triumph marks his first senior international title and is a significant milestone for Rajasthan's sporting landscape.
"It was certainly the happiest moment of my career. Becoming the state's first player to win a senior international title means a lot to me," an ecstatic Sanskar told The Times of India. He expressed surprise at winning a prestigious BWF Super 100 event as his maiden international crown, especially given the high-caliber competition. "Many top shuttlers of the world had participated, and it was quite tough to overcome several hurdles and emerge champion," he added.
Sweet Revenge and a Tough Path to Glory
For Sanskar, the win was particularly sweet as it avenged a straight-games loss to Mithun Manjunath at the Nationals last year. "I was confident of beating him today. After causing 3-4 big upsets on the way to the final, I had a belief that I would get the better of him," he stated. While he rued some unforced errors that forced a decider in the second game, his overall execution of plans and reliance on his attacking strength proved decisive.
The journey to this title was fraught with challenges. Ranked 384th in the world, Sanskar had to fight through the qualification rounds just to enter the main draw—a path few Indian players have successfully traversed to become champions. His campaign was even more impressive considering he had been battling back and shin injuries for months, with no tournament wins since a men's doubles title at the Senior Nationals in December 2024.
"I was down with a series of injuries and couldn't train properly. It's only for the last three weeks I could concentrate fully," revealed Sanskar, an employee of South Eastern Railways. He credited his regained fitness and rhythm just before the tournament for his success. "I am an attacking player, and powerful smashes are my forte. I was feeling confident after each match as I could land my shots in the right areas."
A Launchpad for the Future
Sanskar's victory was built on a series of stunning performances. He won two tough qualifying matches and then treated every main-draw encounter as a final. His scalps included three victories over world top-100 players, which provided a massive confidence boost. Having trained at the Badminton Association of India's National Centre of Excellence in Guwahati for the last couple of years, he now sees this win as a springboard.
"I want to use this triumph as a launchpad for my future," Sanskar affirmed, already looking ahead to the next tournament starting in Cuttack on Tuesday.
The historic win sparked emotional celebrations back home in Jodhpur. His father, Raj Saraswat, a former national-level player and coach, watched the final live on TV. "It is a proud moment for all of us. It was a tough year for him as he battled with injuries, but this win acted as a balm. I am sure he will feel more confident in the next tournament," the proud father said.
Sanskar Saraswat's groundbreaking achievement at the Guwahati Masters has not only put Rajasthan firmly on the badminton map of India but also announced the arrival of a resilient and determined young talent on the international stage.
