SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands : Emerging badminton sensation Tanya Hemanth scripted a remarkable chapter in Indian sports by clinching the women’s singles title at the Saipan International 2025 tournament. The 21-year-old, currently ranked 86th in the world, dominated the final at the Oleai Sports Complex, toppling Japan’s unseeded Kanae Sakai with an impressive 15-10, 15-8 victory.
The Saipan International, a part of the Badminton World Federation’s ground-breaking 3×15 points scoring test series, saw Hemanth display poise and tactical brilliance in every match. En route to the crown, she battled past Japan’s Ririna Hiramoto in the semi-finals (15-10, 12-15, 15-8), Singapore’s Lee Xin Yi Megan in the quarters (14-16, 15-12, 15-9), and overcame an early hiccup to defeat Japan’s Nodoka Sunakawa in the round of 16 (4-15, 15-9, 15-7).
This victory is Hemanth’s fourth international series title—her previous triumphs include the India International (2022), Iran Fajr International (2023), and Bendigo International (2024). Notably, she was also a finalist at the Azerbaijan International in 2024, narrowly missing that title to compatriot Malvika Bansod.
Hemanth’s stellar win not only cements her status as one of India’s brightest young badminton prospects but also exemplifies the depth of talent rising beyond the country’s established stars. As she hoisted the trophy in Saipan, the badminton world was left asking: who is this girl, and what heights will she scale next?
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