Isharani Baruah shuttler ‘ready’ to challenge Asian powerhouses in Games debut

Isharani Baruah advances to Syed Modi International (BAI) quarterfinals NEW DELHI: When Isharani Baruah looks at the Indian badminton team for the Asian Games, she doesn’t see a team that has been overwhelmed by the traditional Asian powers.The 22-year-old from Assam will make her debut at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, joining a team that combines the experience of two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu and youngsters like Tanvi Sharma, Unnati Hooda and the pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand.For Isharani, the journey to this stage began almost by accident. Growing up in Dibrugarh, she was a regular part of the boys playing various sports in her neighborhood. A neighbor noticed her enthusiasm and suggested badminton to her mother. At home, he had no sporting pedigree, no elaborate plan for a badminton career – just a young girl, a racket and an opportunity that changed the course of her life.India’s medal ambitions in Aichi-Nagoya come on the back of steady progress on the Asian circuit. The gap with China, Japan and other established powers may still exist, but Indian players are increasingly finding themselves in the later stages of tournaments rather than just entering them.For Isharani, the evidence is week in and week out.“If you see the Super 100 and Super 300 tournaments, there are always three or four Indians who make it to the quarter-finals or semi-finals. Even in the 500, we manage to compete. Badminton has definitely grown in India and we will soon be at the level of countries like China and Japan. We are ready to challenge these powerhouses at the Asian Games.”Her own rise followed the same path. Consistent performances on the lower circuit have helped her climb the rankings, and more importantly, exposed her to opponents from Asian nations who have a knack for badminton.“To reach the Super 750 and 1000 tournaments, you have to perform first in the 100 and 300 because that’s how you get ranking points. Playing there against Chinese and Japanese opponents and beating them gives us confidence ahead of the bigger tournaments,” Isharani said.But perhaps the biggest change in her game hasn’t been technical. It was between the ears. Once prone to tightening up after mistakes, Isharani has learned to treat composure as part of her game plan. The smile that often appears on the court is not just an expression of joy; it became a way to reset.“The most important thing for me is to enjoy playing. Even if I make mistakes, I don’t want to be tense because then I lose my concentration on the next point. I keep smiling, I talk more with my coaches and I trust the process,” she said.