Tasnim Mir makes India proud

Shuttler becomes first Indian to claim World No. 1 status in U19 girls singles.

Young shuttler Tasnim Mir on Wednesday became the first Indian to grab the world no 1 ranking in the under-19 girls singles in the latest BWF junior rankings. The 16-year-old from Gujarat was rewarded for last year’s stellar run when she secured titles in three junior international tournaments to jump three places to grab the top position in the junior world rankings.

“It was a huge moment for me, it was the first time that I was among the seniors, playing against world class players in big stadiums, it was a great experience,” she said.

Tasnim’s feat has never been achieved by any Indian girl, including two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu and London bronze winner Saina Nehwal.

While Sindhu was world no 2 in her under-19 days, Saina didn’t make the cut for being a junior with the BWF junior rankings starting only in 2011. Another Indian Samiya Imad Farooqui of Telangana came close but could only reach the second spot in the BWF junior rankings.

She won the national junior champion (U19) at the age of 14 and also claimed the national crown in the under-13, under-15 and under-19 girls’ singles categories. Tasnim also won U15 singles and doubles titles at the All-India Sub-Junior ranking tournaments in Hyderabad and Nagpur in 2018.She also emerged victorious at the President Cup Nepal Junior International Series 2020 in Kathmandu.

FAMILY OF SHUTTLERS

Tasnim got her first lessons on badminton from her father Irfan Mir, who is a badminton coach and also ASI in Mehsana police. My father is a badminton coach and also works for Mehsana police. He has always been interested in sports and used to take me along with him when I was about 78 years old,” she said. Tasnim, whose younger brother Mohd Ali Mir, a Gujarat state junior champion, also trains with her in Guwahati, has been an achiever right from her young days.