Bhubaneswar: Indian shuttler Anmol Kharb produced the biggest upset of her career at the Arctic Open 2025 in Finland, stunning World No. 21 Lin Hsiang Ti of Chinese Taipei in a gripping three-game contest on Tuesday. The 18-year-old Indian, ranked 62nd in the world, showed nerves of steel to prevail 23–21, 11–21, 21–18 in a match that lasted 77 minutes.
It was a rollercoaster battle from the start. After trailing 16–19 in the opening game, Anmol displayed remarkable composure to claw her way back and take it 23–21. Lin hit back hard in the second, dominating 21–11 with her sharp net play and cross-court smashes. But the deciding game once again brought out Anmol’s fighting spirit — she recovered from 0–4 down to seal the victory with precise drop shots and unrelenting defense.
“This win means a lot to me. I just wanted to stay calm and play my game, no matter who was on the other side,” Anmol said after the match.
The victory marks a career-defining moment for the young Indian, who has been steadily rising on the BWF circuit. By defeating a top-25 opponent, Anmol has now signaled her arrival on the global stage. She will next face Wen Chi Hsu of Chinese Taipei in the Round of 16, and a potential quarterfinal clash looms against China’s Gao Fang Jie, the tournament’s third seed.
With her fearless attitude and growing confidence, Anmol Kharb has once again shown that India’s new badminton generation is ready to take on the world.
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