Aakarshi Kashyap

{{Infobox badminton player

| name = Aakarshi Kashyap

| image = Aakarshi Kashap.jpg

| size =

| caption =

| nickname =

| birth_name =

| country = India

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2001|08|24}}

| birth_place = Durg, Chhattisgarh, India

| residence =

| height = 1.59

m{{cite web |url=https://en.asiangames2018.id/athletes/athlete/KASHYAP-Aakarshi-3029867/ |title=Athletes: Kashyap Aakarshi |publisher=Asian Games 2018 |access-date=7 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007190250/https://en.asiangames2018.id/athletes/athlete/KASHYAP-Aakarshi-3029867/ |archive-date=7 October 2018 |url-status=dead}}

| weight = 60 kg

| years_active =

| handedness = right

| coach =

| event = Women's singles{{cite web |title=Aakarshi Kashyap Ranking |url=https://bwf.tournamentsoftware.com/player-profile/de47b5e4-d47a-4d20-8cd4-b8112a0ac459/ranking |publisher=BWF-Tournament Software |access-date=9 March 2020}}

| career_record = 113 wins, 73 losses

| highest_ranking = 32

| date_of_highest_ranking = 27 December 2022

| current_ranking = 40

| date_of_current_ranking = 2 January 2024

| medal_templates =

{{MedalCountry | {{IND}} }}

{{MedalGold | 2019 Kathmandu-Pokhara | {{nowrap|Women's team}} }}

| bwfbadminton_id = 80402

| bwf_id = DE47B5E4-D47A-4D20-8CD4-B8112A0AC459

}}

Aakarshi Kashyap (born 24 August 2001) is an Indian badminton player. She was selected to be part of the Indian team at the 2018 Asian Games.{{cite web |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/sport/others/asian-games-2018-heres-the-list-of-indian-squads/articleshow/65144637.cms |title=Asian Games 2018: Here's the list of Indian squads |publisher=Mumbai Mirror |date=26 July 2018 |access-date=27 July 2018}} She was part of the national women's team that won the gold medal in 2019 South Asian Games.{{cite web |url=https://sports.ndtv.com/badminton/indian-mens-womens-badminton-teams-win-gold-medals-in-south-asian-games-2142281 |title=Indian Men's, Women's Badminton Teams Win Gold Medals In South Asian Games |publisher=NDTV |date=2 December 2019 |access-date=13 December 2019}}

Early life, training and domestic results

= Early life and training =

Aakarshi Kashyap was born on 24 August 2001 in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, to Sanjeev Kashyap, a general physician (mbbs doctor), and Amita Kashyap. She has a younger brother named Shreyash. Aakarshi studied in Delhi Public School, Durg. Her father encouraged her to improve her fitness and physical training. She studied for a BA at Seth Sugan Chand Surana College, Durg.

Aakarshi started playing badminton in 2009 under Coach Sanjay Mishra at Ravi Shankar Stadium in Durg. She used to train by herself at the badminton courts of Bhilai Steel Plant, playing with locals three against one.

=2014–2016=

Kashyap's first win was at the All India Ranking Tournament in Sivakasi on August 24, 2014. She won the nationals title at Vishakhapatnam in November 2015.

On 28 April 2016, Kashyap 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. Kashyap claimed twin crowns in the U-17 and U-19 girls' singles in the 25th Krishna Khaitan Memorial All India Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament organized by Express Shuttle Club on October 16, 2016.{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Nitin |date=17 October 2016 |title=Double delight for Aakarshi Kashyap at Krishna Khaitan Memorial Junior Ranking tournament |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/badminton/double-delight-for-aakarshi-kashyap-at-krishna-khaitan-memorial-junior-ranking-tournament-3086599/ |website=Indian Express Limited}}

Also in 2016, Kashyap 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.

=2017–2018=

In November 2017 Kashyap lost against London Games bronze medallist Saina Nehwal in the senior National Badminton Championship. But this match drew her into the spotlight. In December 2017 she scored a double win at 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.{{cite news |url=https://www.india.com/sports/aakarshi-kashyap-mithun-manjunath-win-titles-at-all-india-sr-ranking-badminton-tournament-3907585/ |title=Aakarshi Kashyap, Mithun Manjunath Win Titles at All India Sr Ranking Badminton Tournament |newspaper=Latest News, Breaking News, Live News, Top News Headlines, Viral Video, Cricket Live, Sports, Entertainment, Business, Health, Lifestyle and Utility News | India.com |date=12 January 2020 |last1=Desk |first1=India. com Sports}}{{Cite web |date=2018-09-08 |title=All India Senior Badminton from Sept 11 |url=https://www.thebridgechronicle.com/sports/all-india-senior-badminton-sept-11-24573 |website=The Bridge Chronicle}}

In the Khelo Indian School Games held in January 2018, Kashyap won in the U-17 match. India's ranked player won the girls' singles title of the Yonex sunrise all India junior ranking badminton tournament in May 2018.{{Cite web |last=Vaidya |first=Jaideep |date=2018-05-27 |title=Badminton: Aakarshi Kashyap, qualifier Priyanshu Rajawat win All India Junior Ranking Tournament |url=https://scroll.in/field/880483/badminton-aakarshi-kashyap-qualifier-priyanshu-rajawat-win-all-india-junior-ranking-tournament |website=Scroll.in}}{{Cite web |date=2018-05-27 |title=Badminton: Aakarshi Kashyap enters final of All India Junior Ranking Tournament |url=https://scroll.in/field/880436/badminton-aakarshi-kashyap-enters-final-of-all-india-junior-ranking-tournament |website=Scroll.in}}

=2019–present=

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.{{Cite web |date=2019-06-16 |title=Aakarshi Kashyap, Kiran George Win Singles Title at The All India Senior Ranking Tournament |url=https://www.india.com/sports/aakarshi-kashyap-kiran-george-win-singles-title-at-the-all-india-senior-ranking-tournament-3690998/ |access-date=2022-11-23 |website=India.com |language=en}}

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, Kashyap once again clinched the women's singles titles at the All India Ranking tournament. Kashyap defended her title by defeating qualifier Tanya Hemanth in straight games in the final 21–15, 21–12.{{Cite web |date=22 December 2021 |title=Kiran George, Aakarshi Kashyap clinch men's, women's singles titles at All India Ranking tournament |url=https://thehawk.in/kiran-george-aakarshi-kashyap-clinch-mens-womens-singles/cid6088437.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115121821/https://thehawk.in/kiran-george-aakarshi-kashyap-clinch-mens-womens-singles/cid6088437.htm |archive-date=2022-01-15 |website=Thehawk.in}}{{Cite web |last=Nalwala |first=Ali Asgar |date=2021-12-24 |title=Kiran George, Aakarshi Kashyap win all India senior ranking badminton titles |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/all-india-senior-ranking-badminton-2021-kiran-george-aakarshi-kashyap-chennai |website=Olympics.com}}{{Cite web |title=Kiran and Aakarshi win national ranking badminton titles |url=https://newsdeal.in/kiran-and-aakarshi-win-national-ranking-badminton-titles/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222153117/https://newsdeal.in/kiran-and-aakarshi-win-national-ranking-badminton-titles/ |archive-date=2021-12-22 |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=Newsdeal.in}} In 2022 she defeated Ashmitia Chaliha in BAI selection trials to qualify for the Uber Cup team and Asian and Commonwealth games in individual and team event.