Anupama Upadhyaya clinches Kazakhstan International Challenge title, continues impressive run

Fellow Indian Tharun Mannepalli won the men’s singles title, his first senior trophy.

Anupama Upadhyaya, the former Junior World No. 1, continued her impressive run by clinching the Kazakhstan International Challenge women’s singles title on Saturday at Uralsk.

Upadhyaya, who recently clinched the Polish Open, continued her merry way by defeating compatriot Isharani Baruah, ranked 90th, with a convincing 21-15, 21-16 victory in straight games. The match lasted 41 minutes and showcased Upadhyaya’s skillful net control and strategic thinking as she outplayed Baruah to secure her second title in 2024.

Her journey to the final was marked by some eye-catching wins, including a victory over the Czech Republic’s fifth seed Tereza Svabikova in the pre-quarterfinals and Japan’s Sorano Yoshikawa in the semifinals.

Since ascending to the senior level, Upadhyay has clinched four BWF International titles. Before the Kazakhstan challenger, the ex-junior champion had already secured the Polish Open twice, and other victories include Tajikistan International and the India International Challenge.

On the men’s front, Tharun Mannepalli, the national championships runner-up, won his first senior circuit title. The 22-year-old defeated the eighth-seeded Malaysian Soong Joo Ven with an impressive 21-10, 21-19 scoreline in the men’s singles final.

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The mixed doubles final saw the Indian duo of Sanjai Srivatsa Dhanraj and Maneesha K put up a valiant fight but ultimately fall to Malaysia’s Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien with scores of 21-9, 7-21, 12-21.

Overall, the Indian badminton players did well at the Kazakhstan International Challenge, showing that they’re getting better and better. Especially players like Upadhyaya and Tharun are at the forefront, leading the way for India in badminton.

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