Promising Indian Shuttler Falls Short in Semifinal Clash
Indian badminton hopeful Tanvi Sharma saw her Syed Modi International campaign come to an abrupt end in the semifinals, falling to Japan's Hina Akechi with scores of 21-17, 21-16 in a match that lasted 41 minutes. The defeat highlighted both the young player's potential and the areas requiring refinement under coach Park Tae Sang's guidance.
Critical Moments Define Match Outcome
The turning point arrived at 16-16 in the second set, when Sharma appeared poised for a comeback after dropping the first set. However, a crucial over-hit down-the-line smash proved costly, allowing her Japanese opponent to seize control and close out the match. Until that moment, Sharma had been successfully executing similar flat, deep smashes throughout the tournament.
The World No. 40 Japanese shuttler demonstrated tactical superiority from the outset, building early leads of 8-4 and 19-15 in the opening game. Though Sharma managed to narrow the gap to 14-16 at one stage, she couldn't prevent Akechi from securing the first set.
Fightback Falters Under Pressure
The second set initially showed promise for the Indian athlete. After trailing 0-4, Sharma mounted an impressive six-point run, displaying increased speed and initiative that brought the score to 6-4. Her performance demonstrated why she's considered among the sport's top tier in terms of speed and court awareness.
However, consistency issues resurfaced as the match progressed. Sharma dropped to 7-12 before staging another recovery to level at 15-15. The pattern of building momentum only to surrender it became the story of her match, with nervy inaccuracy undermining her otherwise impressive strokeplay.
Technical Analysis Reveals Areas for Improvement
Akechi's left-handed advantage proved significant, enabling her to pin Sharma to the backhand side with down hits and creating tangles with well-placed dribbles. The Japanese player also displayed deceptive power on her smashes, consistently testing Sharma's forehand reach throughout the opening game.
While Sharma has notably improved her flat smashes since her World Juniors campaign - developing shots that travel almost parallel to the floor just inches over the net - her net defense emerged as a vulnerability. When Akechi responded with similar net play, Sharma struggled to maintain composure.
Coach Park Tae Sang will need to address several aspects of Sharma's game, including her tendency to burn reviews early in matches and her difficulty in maintaining leads once secured. The match against Akechi saw Sharma unable to sustain advantages on two separate occasions despite having the skills to build them.
Silver Linings and Future Prospects
Despite the disappointment, Sharma's performance contained positive elements. Her ability to read the game and set up opponents remains impressive, and she demonstrated reliable drop shots close to the net that trapped Akechi multiple times. The flat smashes she's developed are often unretrievable when executed properly.
In other matches, Indian hopes remain alive with Unnati Hooda set to face Neslihan Arin in her semifinal encounter. Meanwhile, Treesa Jolly and Hariharan Amsakarunan exited the mixed doubles competition, falling to Indonesian pair Bernadine-Dejan 21-17, 21-19.
The Syed Modi International continues to serve as a crucial development platform for emerging Indian talent, with Sharma's experience highlighting the fine line between victory and defeat at the international level.
