Indian badminton player Anmol Kharb secured her first senior international title by winning the Belgian International 2024 women’s singles event in Leuven, Belgium. At just 17 years old and ranked 222nd in the world, Anmol defeated Denmark’s world No. 80 Amalie Schulz 24-22, 12-21, 21-10 in a thrilling 59-minute final on Saturday, marking a major career milestone for the young athlete.
Meanwhile, in tennis, the Indian men’s team suffered a 4-0 loss to Sweden in the Davis Cup 2024 World Group I tie, further denting India’s chances in the tournament.
Anmol Kharb’s Maiden International Title
The Belgian International Badminton Tournament 2024 was held from September 11 to 14, with players from around the world competing. Anmol Kharb made her way to the final after defeating Kaloyana Nalbantova of Bulgaria in a tough semi-final match. She had a remarkable run, winning all her matches in straight games, even though her opponents were ranked higher.
Anmol’s victory over Schulz in the final was hard-fought, with both players pushing each other to the limit. Despite losing the second game, Anmol bounced back strongly in the third game, winning 21-10.
Anmol’s Past Achievements
Anmol Kharb has been steadily rising in the badminton world. Last year, she became the National Women’s Singles Badminton Champion at just 16 years old. Earlier in 2024, she played a key role in securing a gold medal for India at the Badminton Asia Team Championships, defeating higher-ranked opponents like Japan’s Natsuki Nidaira and Thailand’s Pornpicha Choeikeewong.
India’s Struggles in Davis Cup 2024
In contrast to Anmol’s success, India faced disappointment in the Davis Cup 2024. The Indian men’s team lost to Sweden 4-0 in the World Group I tie, played on an indoor hard court in Stockholm, Sweden. The loss relegated India to the World Group I play-offs for next year, while Sweden advanced to the 2025 qualifiers.
In the singles matches, N Sriram Balaji and Ramkumar Ramanathan both lost to Swedish players Elias Ymer and Leo Borg (son of tennis legend Bjorn Borg), respectively. India also lost in the doubles, with Ramkumar Ramanathan and N Sriram Balaji falling to the Swedish pair of Filip Bergevi-Andre Goransson. The fourth singles match saw Siddharth Vishwakarma lose to Elias Ymer, with the fifth match not played.
Anmol wins Global Impact
Anmol Kharb’s victory at the Belgian International shows India’s emerging talent in badminton and strengthens the country’s presence on the international stage. Her win could inspire more young athletes to pursue badminton and bring attention to India’s rising stars in sports.
The Davis Cup loss, however, is a setback for Indian tennis. With India now facing play-offs, it highlights the challenges faced by the men’s tennis team on the global circuit. This defeat marks India’s sixth straight loss to Sweden in the Davis Cup.
Anmol Kharb Wins Belgian International 2024 Badminton Title- Key Points
- Anmol Kharb wins her first senior international title at the Belgian International 2024.
- The 17-year-old beat Denmark’s Amalie Schulz in the women’s singles final.
- India’s men’s tennis team loses 4-0 to Sweden in the Davis Cup 2024 World Group I tie.
- India faces relegation to the World Group I play-offs after the Davis Cup defeat.
- Anmol’s victory boosts India’s standing in badminton, while the Davis Cup loss reveals weaknesses in Indian tennis.
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Anmol Kharb is a 17-year-old Indian badminton player who won her first senior international title at the Belgian International 2024.
Anmol’s win is a major achievement for Indian badminton, showcasing the country’s emerging talent on the international stage.
The Indian men’s team lost 4-0 to Sweden in the World Group I tie of the Davis Cup 2024.
The Indian team was led by non-playing captain Rohit Rajpal.
India has been relegated to the World Group I play-offs for the next year’s Davis Cup.
