Tanvi Sharma, 16, Channels Saina, Sindhu as She Pursues Olympic Badminton Dream

Sixteen-year-old Tanvi Sharma is making waves in the badminton world, drawing comparisons to Indian legends Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu. Speaking to IndiaToday.in, Tanvi and her coach, Park Tae Sang, discussed her recent run to the US Open final and her aspirations for the future. Tanvi, a dedicated PV Sindhu fan, has modeled her game after the double Olympic medalist.

Tanvi Sharma, 16, reached the final of US Open Super 300 in June (BWF/Badminton Photo)

Coach Park Tae-Sang, who previously guided PV Sindhu to Olympic bronze and Commonwealth Games gold, humorously noted that Tanvi possesses the best qualities of both Saina and Sindhu after her silver medal win at the US Open 2025.

"She is made out of the best parts of Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu," Park said.

He elaborated on his approach to Tanvi's training, stating, "Actually, with Tanvi, I wanted to combine both Indian legends. When she is on court, she is like Saina Nehwal – she is tricky. She’s also like PV Sindhu – she plays with aggression and is top level globally. So, I wanted Tanvi to learn the good points from both players."

US Open Breakthrough

Tanvi Sharma, an unseeded player primarily known for her junior badminton achievements, had an impressive run at the US Open. She defeated several top players to reach the final without dropping a single game. Her aggressive style caught opponents off guard. Her success coincided with Ayush Shetty's victory in the men's singles, marking a significant milestone for Indian badminton in 2025.

However, Tanvi acknowledged that nerves affected her performance in the final against World No. 18 Beiwen Zhang, resulting in a 11-21, 21-16, 10-21 loss.

"There were a lot of unforced errors, and I need to work on them and also on my endurance," Tanvi admitted after the match.

Humble Beginnings, Lofty Goals

Despite the final loss, Tanvi's journey is remarkable. Hailing from a modest family in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, her goal for the year was to reach the final of a major senior tournament. The fact that the loss stings speaks to her ambition.

"It was actually my goal for a long time. I was waiting for the moment when I would be able to participate in a 300 tournament and play the final of such a tournament... I just expected to give my best in every match," she said.

A Measured Approach

Coach Park Tae-Sang emphasizes a patient approach to Tanvi's development. Given her young age of 16 and her need to balance academics and sports, he believes in gradual progress.

"She is still young, she's just sixteen, so she will get many chances in the future. I want to say that there is no hurry. She can slowly, slowly move forward," Park stated.

He cautioned against rushing her development, saying, "If she starts thinking, 'Oh, I’m the runner-up and got a silver medal in the 300 tournament, now I want to play more,' it can divert her focus, and she might fall again. So I want to do everything little by little."

Family Support

Tanvi's family has been instrumental in her success. Despite the challenges of pursuing badminton with limited resources, her parents supported her and her sister's training at the Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad from 2016 to 2021.

"My husband is a government employee and we took the decision to take Tanvi, along with Radhika, to Hyderabad to train at the academy. Staying in such a big city is not easy and it took a lot of expenditure for us," Tanvi's mother said in 2023.

Inspiration from PV Sindhu

Tanvi, a devoted fan of PV Sindhu, has shaped her game by emulating Sindhu's aggressive style and powerful backcourt attacks. She also incorporates tactical elements similar to those of Saina Nehwal.

"From the start, I’ve followed Sindhu didi a lot. From her aggression to her strokes on the court, she has motivated me a lot and made me believe that I can also do it. So I also try to follow her aggression and try to show that on the court," Tanvi said.

She is grateful for the opportunity to train with Park Tae-Sang, who coached Sindhu for nearly four years.

"I feel so blessed and happy to be training with him. I have got the best coach, and I just wish to work hard and keep moving forward," she added.

Aiming for Olympic Gold

Park Tae-Sang believes Tanvi has the potential to become one of the greatest badminton players India has ever produced. He revealed that their ultimate goal is to win a gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, when Tanvi will be 19 years old.

He stressed the importance of focusing on the World Junior Championships in October 2025 before transitioning to senior tournaments.

"Our dream and aim is the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Our aim is to get a gold medal for India, as India has never won a gold medal in women’s singles badminton. We will try, and I want to try with her," he concluded.