India’s rising badminton star, Anmol Kharb, who played a key role in India’s Asian Team Championship victory earlier this year, has secured her first individual senior title by winning the Belgian International Challenge. The 17-year-old, who has shown remarkable resilience since suffering an ankle injury at the Uber Cup in May, clinched the title with a hard-fought victory over World No. 80 Amalie Schulz, defeating the Dane 24-22, 12-21, 21-10.
Reflecting on the triumph, Kharb, who hails from Faridabad, said, “This title is special and will remain close to my heart, but I can’t afford to celebrate yet. I have more to win, starting with the Poland International next week.”
Anmol’s journey to the title was anything but smooth. Her visa was approved only a day before her departure, forcing her to fly overnight and head straight to her match after landing. Overcoming the fatigue of seven matches in three days, she managed to push through, defeating higher-ranked players such as World No. 68 Kaloyana Nalbantova in the semifinals.
The title win marks a significant comeback for the teenager, who was sidelined for months following her Uber Cup injury. “The injury was tough, and even after I recovered, I had a lingering fear about my movement on court,” Anmol revealed. However, under the guidance of coach Gopichand at his Hyderabad academy, she worked on improving her technique and building mental toughness. “The coaches kept reminding me to think like a champion and focus on finding solutions during matches,” she said.
Now, with increased physical conditioning and a renewed mindset, Anmol is looking forward to her next challenge at the Poland International Challenge, where she will face Schulz once again in the opening round. Despite the demanding schedule, the young shuttler remains determined to keep winning. “The mentality is to win every match, no matter what,” she said with a smile.
