Orleans, France: India’s challenge at the Orleans Masters Super 300 badminton tournament came to an end on Saturday after young shuttlers Tanvi Sharma and Isharani Baruah bowed out in the women’s singles semifinals, both suffering straight-game defeats.

Seventeen-year-old Tanvi Sharma, the World Junior Championships silver medallist, went down 9-21, 16-21 in just 35 minutes to Japan’s former world champion and fifth seed Nozomi Okuhara. The Indian struggled to control unforced errors throughout the match, allowing Okuhara to dominate proceedings with her trademark consistency and deceptive play.

Okuhara quickly seized momentum, racing to an early lead and capitalising on Tanvi’s inconsistent length. The Japanese shuttler dictated rallies with precision, moving Tanvi across the court and finishing points with sharp smashes to take the opening game comfortably.

In the second game, Tanvi showed signs of a comeback, briefly leveling the score at 12-12 after forcing errors from her opponent. However, Okuhara regained control with disciplined shot placement and superior rally management. A crucial 25-shot rally and a series of well-constructed points helped her pull ahead and eventually seal the match.

Later, 22-year-old Isharani Baruah also exited the tournament after losing 12-21, 21-23 to Thailand’s rising star Pitchamon Opatniputh, the 2023 World Junior Championships winner.

Isharani found herself trailing early in the first game as Opatniputh maintained a steady lead with solid defence and controlled aggression. Despite occasional points gained from her opponent’s mistakes, the Indian was unable to mount a serious challenge.

The second game saw a stronger start from Isharani, who took an early lead with attacking play. However, a string of unforced errors allowed the Thai shuttler to claw back into the contest. The match turned into a closely fought battle, with Isharani leveling at 17-17 and even edging ahead after winning a gruelling 31-shot rally.

In a tense finish, however, the Indian faltered at crucial moments, failing to convert game points. Opatniputh held her nerve and sealed the match with a decisive cross-court smash.

With both semifinal defeats, India’s campaign at the USD 250,000 tournament concluded without a finalist, despite promising performances from its young shuttlers.