Anmol Kharb has just turned 17 years old. She's world rank no 472. The Badminton Asia Team Championships was her first ever international tournament. And she played the pivotal role that guided India to clinch BATC title for the very first time.

Going into the tournament, India were underdogs. Their best player, PV Sindhu, was on a comeback from a long injury layoff, and they were outranked in almost every other match. It's in the face of mighty odds like this, though, that sporting fairytales are born.

Anmol, chief protagonist in said fairytale, started the tournament with a bang, winning the deciding match against mighty China. 

After that result, the Badminton Association of India had posted a graphic about her, as a way of introducing her to the sporting public. Amongst a litany of facts was one point that stood out: she hates to lose.

Facing a 2-2 deadlock against Thailand in the final, Anmol exhibited exceptional skill by dismantling the 45th-ranked Pornpicha Choeikeewong in the decisive match. Anmol dominated both sets with scores of 21-14 and 21-9, securing India's first-ever title in the championships.

Hailing from Faridabad, Haryana, Anmol drew her inspiration from the legendary Saina Nehwal. Her foray into the sport commenced at a tender age, a mere nine years old, and has since blossomed into a national champion. Notably, she clinched the title at the Krishna Khaitan Junior tournament in Panchkula, showcasing her burgeoning talent.

Her introduction to the sport came through familial influence; observing her elder brother's passion for badminton sparked her own interest. It was at Dayanand Public School in Faridabad where she first picked up a racket.

Notably, her father, Devender Singh, a former Kabaddi player turned advocate, and her supportive mother, Rajbala Kharb, played integral roles in nurturing her talent. Despite the challenges, her mother stood by her side throughout her rigorous training sessions at the Sunrise Shuttlers Academy in Noida, where she shifted her training base.

Under the guidance of her coach, Kusumm Singh, and with the valuable insights of Indonesian coaches at the academy, Anmol Kharb continues to shape her promising badminton career.

In 2019, Anmol Kharb achieved some notable milestones in her badminton journey. She reached the quarterfinals in the Under-13 category at the Sub-Junior Nationals in Bhagalpur but faced a defeat against Unnati Hooda. Later, she made it to the finals in the Under-17 Sub-Junior Nationals in Bhubaneshwar and also reached the final of the Under-19 Junior Nationals at the same venue.

Currently holding the top spot in the BAI (Badminton Association of India) Rankings for her age group, the 17-year-old sensation is dedicated to her U-19 career, aspiring to excel at the senior level in the coming years.