Syed Modi International: Long wait over for Dhruv Kapila, enters mixed doubles final with Tanisha Crasto | Badminton News

For someone who had transitioned to the senior badminton circuit in 2019, it’s been a long time coming for Dhruv Kapila. On Sunday at the Syed Modi International in Lucknow, he will play his first Super 300 level final on the BWF World Tour as he and Tanisha Crasto reached the summit clash in mixed doubles. That it was at the tournament where it all started for Dhruv and Tanisha made it extra special.
China’s Zhou Zhi Hong and Yang Jia Yi were the higher-ranked pair in the semifinal on Saturday but Dhruv-Tanisha were dominant for the most part, prevailing 21-16 21-15 in 42 minutes. “It feels great to be in my first Super 300 final at Syed Modi. I was waiting for this moment actually, and now it’s finally here,” Dhruv said. “We came really well prepped for this match and thankfully everything we planned went well. Super proud of Dhruv for the way he covered everything on court. I have always loved mixed doubles, and we are really happy to do it here,” Tanisha added.
There was a good crowd in at the BBD UP Badminton Academy for what was the first match of the semifinals day, dominated largely a group of school kids. They were right behind the Indian pair through the match, making for a cracking atmosphere. Also watching along from a different vantage point was Ashwini Ponnappa, Tanisha’s women’s doubles partner, who was on commentary duties for the BWF’s official broadcast. And a couple of observations she made early in the match proved astute.
The Indian veteran was full of praise for the variations Dhruv brings from the backcourt, it wasn’t just about brute force smashing. “He has a powerful smash, but also can play the half smashes, and play the variations straight and crosscourt, not many players have all those variations,” she said, and it was a factor right through the match as he kept Zhou Zhi Hong guessing at the backcourt.
Ashwini also said that Tanisha, apart from being rapid at the front court, is also very capable of rotating, something she has to do more often in women’s doubles. The Indian got the better of the front-court battle against Yang Jia Yi, but when she needed to backpedal and play the smashes, she did that too. “That was something new today, we just did what we had to do in the moment, but Dhruv still had to play from the back for the most part, happy it worked out when it did,” Tanisha said.
The final won’t be easy against Dechapol Puavaranukroh Supissara Paewsampran, who are ranked lower than the Indians. Dechapol, the former world No 1 who formed a hugely consent pairing with Sapsiree Taerattanachai, is one of the best doubles players in the world. But Tanisha-Dhruv, who are quite possibly India’s immediate answer to the mixed doubles conundrum, are in with a chance for what would be a shot in the arm if they manage to clinch their first Super 300 title.