Tanvi Sharma, Isharani Baruah Reach Vietnam Open Semifinals as India Celebrate Double Success

India’s young women’s singles contingent produced a strong showing at the Vietnam Open Super 100 on Friday, with Tanvi Sharma and Isharani Baruah both booking their places in the semifinals. 

The biggest talking point, however, was Tanvi’s hard-fought victory over compatriot Malvika Bansod, as the teenager held her nerve in a three-game battle to keep her title hopes alive.

The top-seeded Tanvi, ranked World No. 27, overcame the seventh-seeded Malvika 21-18, 15-21, 21-14 to move into the last four. Isharani, the third seed, completed a successful day for India with a more straightforward 21-15, 21-18 victory over Chinese Taipei’s Huang Ching Ping.

For Tanvi, the result was particularly significant because the quarterfinal brought two Indian players face-to-face, ensuring that one of them would have to see her tournament end. Malvika began the contest with greater urgency, racing into a 13-6 advantage in the opening game.

Tanvi, though, refused to allow the early deficit to dictate the outcome. The World No. 27 gradually worked her way back into the contest and produced an impressive turnaround, winning 10 of the next 13 points to level the game at 16-16. From there, she remained composed through the closing exchanges and completed the comeback to take the opening game 21-18.

Malvika responded in the second game, and the contest became an increasingly tight affair. Neither player was able to establish a decisive advantage for long, with the lead changing hands as both looked to gain control of the rallies. This time, Malvika found the stronger finish. She tightened the pressure in the latter stages and closed out the game 21-15, forcing the match into a decider.

The third game once again reflected the competitiveness of the encounter in its early stages. The players remained closely matched until the halfway point, but Tanvi then began to create separation. Once she established her advantage, she did not allow Malvika an opportunity to mount another comeback.

Tanvi pulled clear and eventually sealed the decider 21-14, completing a 21-18, 15-21, 21-14 victory and earning her place in the semifinals. The result continues an encouraging run for Tanvi, who has emerged as one of the most closely watched names in India’s next generation of women’s singles players. Her ability to recover from a six-point deficit in the opening game and then close out a deciding game against an established compatriot underlines the competitive depth developing within Indian badminton.

Her semifinal opponent will be determined by the all-Thai quarterfinal between Tonrug Saeheng and Sarunrak Vitidsarn. Whoever comes through that contest will face Tanvi with a place in the Vietnam Open final at stake.

Isharani, meanwhile, ensured that India would have a second representative in the women’s singles semifinals after controlling her quarterfinal against Huang Ching Ping. The third seed started strongly and maintained her advantage throughout the opening game, eventually taking it 21-15. Huang attempted to make the second game more competitive, but Isharani remained in control and prevented the match from extending to a decider, winning 21-18.

Isharani’s reward is a semifinal against another Indian opponent, with Rakshitha Sree and Mansi Singh set to determine who will meet her in the last four. That means India are guaranteed representation in the women’s singles final, while the possibility remains of an all-Indian title clash if Isharani and Tanvi both advance.

For Indian badminton, the results provide another glimpse of the depth emerging behind the country's established stars. Tanvi’s victory was built on resilience and her ability to change the momentum of a match, while Isharani’s straight-game win demonstrated the value of maintaining control once an advantage has been established. The Vietnam Open Super 100 is therefore shaping up to be an important platform for both players. With the semifinals now ahead, Tanvi will look to build on her comeback victory, while Isharani will aim to continue her efficient run.

One thing is already certain: India will have at least one woman in the Vietnam Open final. Should Tanvi and Isharani both win their semifinal matches, the tournament could culminate in an all-Indian showdown for the title.