RohitBhandiye
PANAJI
TanishaCrasto was the only player from Goa participating at the WorldBadminton Championship 2026 being held in New Delhi from 17 to 23August. A champion player, Tanisha has been a regular member of theIndian national badminton team since 2021.
In herplaying career, Tanisha has won four international titles in BWFWorld Tours and three titles in BWF International Challenges. She wasalso part of the Indian team that won gold at the Asia TeamChampionship in 2024. In fact, Tanisha was the lone Goan athlete toparticipate at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Currentlyshe along with her partner Dhruv Kapila is India’s highest rankedpair in mixed doubles with a world ranking of 18. In November 2024,Tanisha along with her partner Ashwini Ponnappa were world ranked 13in women’s doubles.
But,despite her stupendous achievements, the Goa government has neversupported her nor provided her with any financial assistance.
Tanishaspoke to The Goan for an exclusive interview.
Yourexperience at the World Badminton Championship 2026 in New Delhi
Itwas really nice. We were really excited that the World Championshipwas happening in New Delhi. It was a really a great opportunity toplay here and represent India. We won our first round. It was a goodmatch. The second match also was nice despite we lost. However, itwas a good experience. There is a lot of learning to do, areas toimprove. In the second match, our Chinese opponents were much betteron that day. We tried as much as we could. In the second set, I thinkthey completely took over. They took good control. They didn't giveus any opportunity to score a point and they played really well. This was my fourth World Championship. I had reached thequarter-finals of the World Championship in Paris in 2025.
Yourexperience at 2024 Paris Olympics
Itwas really nice participating at the Olympics. That's the biggeststage anyone would wish to play on. I was very grateful and I am verythankful to be there and play that tournament. However, being a Goanthere, there was no support at all from Goa government.
Ithink that's really sad, very, very sad. A lot of cash awards werepromised just based on my qualification but nothing was given. And Istill haven't received anything from Goa, no support at all. This isvery regretful. I really wish they could have supported me a littlemore.
Preparationfor 2026 Asian Games
Weare preparing very well for the forthcoming Asian Games 2026 to beheld in Japan.
It'sa new competition but I think before that we have the China Open nextweek. So, all eyes are going to be on that tournament. This will bemy second Asian Games.
Youstarted your career as a singles player, you won few tournaments.Then you shifted to doubles.
Iused to play doubles along with singles. And eventually with time Ifelt that doubles was more of a calling. I was enjoying doubles andmixed doubles more. Comparatively, I was not performing that well insingles whereas in doubles and mixed doubles I was performing better.I was always on the podium. So that made me realize that this is mytrue calling.
Yourpartnership with Ashwini Ponnappa and Dhruv Kapila
WithAshwini didi it was a very different scenario. I used to literally doanything and everything. I used to eat, I used to go out, I used toenjoy. Talk a lot about matches, do a lot of match analysis. WithDhruv, not much. But we still do go out for good food.
Challengesfaced in your career when you shifted to India from Dubai
Theenvironment, the people, the mindset, everything is very different inIndia. In Dubai, it was more of a comfort life. Everything is veryindependent over here. And everything has to be done with a lot ofhard work. I never really trained as such in Goa. I was there justfor a month or so playing with Lydia Barreto. We had to play a coupleof tournaments in Goa. But after that gradually I started playing alot of tournaments in India and I moved to Gopichand Academy inHyderabad where I have been training since 2018.
Yourultimate goal
Ihave played one Olympics. Now I want to win an Olympic medal as well.Also, I want to be a world champion.
