Tanvi Sharma, 17, Wins Taipei Open as Youngest Champion in Its History

She did not know she had just made history. Told moments after the biggest win of her young career that she had become the youngest champion in Taipei Open history, Tanvi Sharma answered with a smile: "Really? I wasn't aware of that." The 17-year-old from Punjab had eclipsed a mark held by her idol, Tai Tzu Ying.

On Sunday in Taipei City, Sharma outclassed Vietnam's sixth seed Nguyen Thuy Linh 21-16, 21-16 in the women's singles final. It took her just 36 minutes to seal her first BWF World Tour title.

Youngest of them all

At 17 years and 222 days old, Sharma became the youngest champion in the tournament's history, surpassing the legendary Tai Tzu Ying. She also overtook Korean doubles player Lee Yong Dae as the youngest champion across any category the event has crowned.

Sharma became the first Indian woman to win the Taipei Open title since Saina Nehwal in 2008. The result ended a long Indian wait, with the country's previous crown coming through mixed doubles in 2009.

A final under control

Sharma, ranked 34th in the world, dictated terms against world No. 21 Nguyen from the outset. She raced to a 10-2 lead in the opening game before steadying herself to take it 21-16.

In the second, Nguyen jumped ahead 3-0, only for the teenager to reel her back in. Sharma squandered three match points but held her nerve to convert her fourth. Coached by Park Tae-sang, she controlled the match with deceptive drops and heavy smashes.

The next generation speaks

PV Sindhu led the praise. "Couldn't be prouder of this girl. I've been saying for years that Tanvi has all the ingredients to become a very special player," the two-time Olympic medallist wrote on X.

For Sharma, the moment was simpler: "I'm really very happy to win this title here." Then, learning whose record she had broken, she added, "It's such an honour. Tai is my idol." A teenager standing alone at center court, now unmistakably the future of Indian badminton.