Aakarshi Kashyap

Aakarshi Kashyap was born on the 24th August 2001 in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh. She was born to Sanjeev Kashyap, her father a dermatologist, and Amita Kashyap her mother. She has a younger brother named Shreyash. Aakarshi studied in Delhi Public School, Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh. It was her father who encouraged her to improve her fitness and physical training. She was doing her BA at Seth Sugan Chand Surana College, Durg.

Aakarshi started playing badminton in 2009 under Coach Sanjay Mishra at Ravi Shankar Stadium, Durg. She used to train by herself at the badminton courts of steel company Bhilai playing with local players three against one. Kashyap's first win was at the All India Ranking Tournament at Sivakasi on August 24, 2014. She won the nationals title at Vishakhapatnam in November 2015. Aakarshi dreams to become an Olympic Medalist someday.

On 28 April 2016, the Chhattisgarh shuttler won the twin crowns in the U-15 and U-17 girls’ single category at the PNB MetLife Junior Badminton Championship Season 2 National Finals.

In 2016, Kashyap began training in Prakash Padukone Academy in Bengaluru. She stayed with her mother in an accommodation sponsored by Olympic Gold Quest a non-profit organization. The young Kashyap claimed twin crowns in U-17 U-19 girl's singles in the 25th Krishna Khaitan Memorial All India Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament organized by Express Shuttle Club on October 16, 2016.[5]

She was selected to represent India in the badminton Asia U-15 and U-17 junior championships held at Kudus, Indonesia where she bagged a bronze medal. In November 2017 Aakarshi lost against the London Games Bronze Medallist Saina Nehwal in the senior National Badminton Championship. But this match put drew her into the spotlight. In December 2017 she scored a double win in the 42nd Junior National Badminton Championship (U-17, U-19) held in Guwahati.

In January 2018 she won the top prize at the Yonex-Sunrise All India Senior Ranking badminton tournament in Bengaluru. Kashyap was made to fight hard for her win in the final against Gayathri Gopichand, prevailing in the final decider after a 63-minute marathon match 21–17, 12–21, 21–9.[6][7]

In the Khelo Indian School Games held in January 2018, the Bhilai player won in the U-17 match. India's ranked player won the girl's singles title of the Yonex sunrise all India junior ranking badminton tournament in May 2018.[8][9]

In 2019 Kashyap continued her form by taking top honours gain in the domestic singles event at the Yonex Sunrise All India Senior Ranking tournament in Vijayawada, India. She defeated Anura Prabhudesai in the final with a 21–12, 21–16 victory.[10]

In 2020, Kashyap began practicing at the Suchitra Badminton Academy in Hyderabad. The ace shuttler from Chhattisgarh won the title in the women's singles category at Kenya International 2020, which is the BWF Future Series event.

In December 2021 Aakarshi Kashyap once again clinched the women's singles titles at All India Ranking tournament. Kashap defended her title by defeating qualifier Tanya Hemanth in straight games in the final 21–15, 21–12.[11][12][13]

• Aakarshi Kashyap at BWF.tournamentsoftware.com
• Aakarshi Kashyap at BWFbadminton.com