Who is Anmol Kharb? Profile, style, scouting report of India's latest badminton sensation

Published at :April 30, 2024 at 12:18 PM

Modified at :April 30, 2024 at 12:18 PM

(Courtesy : Badminton Association of India)

The rising Star pulled off some stunning upsets at Badminton Asia Team Championships.

Anmol Kharb dazzled fans at the Seita City Convention Centre in Malaysia with her skills and fearlessness in her first major tournament. The 17-year-old from Faridabad quite fittingly hit the winning point for India’s historic maiden title at the Badminton Asia Team Championships, having been the team’s trump card throughout.

Anmol Kharb, a teenager from Faridabad, stunned the badminton world by leading India to their first-ever title at the Badminton Asia Team Championships 2024. She defeated Japan’s Natsuki Nidaira, ranked 29th in the world, in the decisive fifth match of the semi-final, and Pornpicha Choeikeewong, from Thailand, ranked 44 in the decisive fifth match for the glory.

Foreseeing the Asian heroics, she was chosen to be a part of the Uber Cup 2024 squad. Given the biggest singles star for India, PV Sindhu is missing out on the event, she will get the biggest platform to announce her arrival like Sindhu did in 2014.

Pullela Gopichand, the chief national coach has also praised Anmol Kharb in the past for her fearless and intelligent play, calling her a breath of fresh air for Indian badminton.

Anmol Kharb’s introduction & background

Born in Faridabad in January 2007, Anmol Kharb’s journey into the world of badminton began under the shadow of Indian superstar Saina Nehwal’s rise as the U19 national champion. Anmol’s initial spark for the sport was ignited by watching her brother, Hardik, play. However, when Hardik decided to prioritize his studies, Anmol seized the opportunity to carve her path in the sport.

With her mother, Rajbala, as her pillar of support, Anmol relocated to the Sunrise Shuttlers Academy in Noida to pursue her badminton dreams. This move marked the beginning of her professional journey in the sport.

By 2019, at the tender age of 12, Anmol had already begun to make her mark in the badminton world. She clinched her first U17 All India Ranking title in Hyderabad and made it to the semifinals of the Senior All India Ranking tournament in Visakhapatnam. These achievements were just the start of her promising career.

Player Details

Anmol Kharb embarked on her journey in Faridabad, Haryana. At the tender age of nine, she was inspired by her brother’s involvement in the sport. Recognizing her potential, she moved to the Sunrise Shuttlers Academy in Noida.

Her mother, Rajbala Kharb, became an unwavering pillar of support, accompanying her through rigorous training sessions under the tutelage of Coach Kusumm Singh and Indonesian mentors.

In 2019, Anmol’s talent began to flourish as she achieved significant milestones in various age categories of national tournaments. She advanced to the quarterfinals of the U-13 Sub-Junior Nationals in Bhagalpur and made it to the finals in both the U-17 and U-19 categories in Bhubaneshwar.

This year also saw her triumph in the U-17 All India Ranking tournament in Hyderabad and a semi-final finish in the Senior All India Ranking tournament in Visakhapatnam.

Maintaining her upward trajectory, Anmol made a splash in the subsequent season by reaching the pre-quarters of the Asian Championships in Indonesia and securing the U-17 title at the Sub-Junior Nationals in Hyderabad.

Playing Style

She has been dubbed “Mini Saina” by netizens for her resemblance to the badminton legend Saina Nehwal. She excels in court coverage and quick interplays. Her serve is strikingly similar to Saina’s, and she can anticipate and counter forehand cross smashes with ease.

She has a powerful backhand that can change the shuttle’s direction in an instant. She moves on the court with agility and unpredictability. She can generate an attack in a flat-paced rally, find gaps, and select shots wisely. She has a very stable and consistent gameplay.

Best ranking achieved

Anmol Kharb achieved a new career-high ranking of 255 in the women’s singles category. The 17-year-old prodigy, who became the national champion in 2023, made history by leading the Indian women’s team to their first-ever gold medal at the Badminton Asia Team Championships in Malaysia earlier this year.

Kharb stunned the world with her fearless and flamboyant style of play, defeating higher-ranked opponents from China, Japan, and Indonesia.

Best Performance

Anmol Kharb pulled off a sensational upset by beating Natsuki Nidaira of Japan in the quarterfinals of the Badminton Asia Team Championships. Kharb, who was ranked 472nd in the world at that time overcame Nidaira, who was 443 spots ahead of her and had defeated former World Champion Ratchanok Intanon at the Indonesia Masters in January 2024.

Kharb won the match in straight sets, 21-14, 21-18. Kharb had earlier displayed her skills by edging out Wu Luo Yu of China, who was ranked 149th, in a thrilling three-setter, 22-20, 14-21, 21-18, to seal India’s 3-2 win in the group stage.

Later in April, at Kazakhstan International challenger, she defeated her compatriot WR 54 and the top seed in the event, Malvika Bansod in straight games 21-13, 22-20.

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