SHAH ALAM: While the Indian men's badminton squad are already considered a world powerhouse, their women's team are not far behind.
On Saturday, a rather youthful Indian side proved that their recent win over China was no fluke when they stunned a star-studded Japan 3-2 in the semi-finals of the Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC).
At only 17, world No. 472 Anmol Kharb was the star, delivering India's winning point following a superb 21-14, 21-18 upset over world No. 29 Natsuki Nidaira in the third singles match.
"It was a crucial match as the score was tight at 2-2. Despite that, there was no pressure on me," said Anmol, who became India's youngest national champion last year.
"This is my first time, and I'm still a junior. My team only asked me to give my best.
"I'm so happy I got to bring my team to the final and make history in this event because India have never won a women's team medal."
Anmol has been compared to another Indian legend, Saina Nehwal, who also hails from the same state of Haryana.
"We both are from the same state, and I think it's because of our style of play. Saina is an aggressive player, and I am too," added Anmol, who undergoes rigorous physical training with boxers back home.
"I train about 30-40 kilometres from my house, and there aren't many good academies close by, so every morning, I do my physical training with the boxers there.
"You need to be physically strong for badminton, and that's why I train with these boxers," she added.
Former Uber Cup champions Japan drew first blood through Aya Ohori, who downed former world champion P. V. Sindhu 21-13, 22-20 in the first singles match.
A resilient India levelled the score through world No. 23 Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand Pullela, who upset world No. 6 Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida 21-17, 16-21, 22-20.
For the record, the win was Treesa-Gayatri's first over the Japanese duo in three meetings.
Ashmita Chaliha, a 24-year-old who hails from Assam, put India ahead when it was her turn to stun another former world champion, Nozomi Okuhara, 21-17, 21-14 in what would be her biggest career win to date.
Speaking to the press after her match, Ashmita, who trains at the Prakash Padukone Academy in Bangalore, said: "I'm very happy and proud of myself, especially how I played against Okuhara today.
"Last week, I also made the semi-finals of the Thailand Masters, my first at the Super 300, so I'm hoping to continue doing well."
The scratch pairing of Ashwini Ponnappa and Sindhu would go on to lose their match 21-14, 21-11 to Rena Miyaura-Ayako Sakuramato before Anmol came on court to serve a stunner.
India will play Thailand in the final on Sunday. The Thais defeated Indonesia 3-1 in the other semi-final tie.
"I'm very confident India will go on to win. I'm not overconfident, but I'm very confident we will do it.
"We have defeated the powerhouses China and Japan, which means we are strong too.
"This tournament serves as the selection for the Uber Cup, and we want to go on and make history," said Anmol.