From Dhaka gold to Olympic hope

USA shuttler of Indian origin Ishika Jaiswal produced a composed yet fighting display to claim the women’s singles title at the Yonex–Sunrise Bangladesh International Challenge in Dhaka, securing her first-ever gold medal at the tournament.

In a tense and high-quality final at the Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Indoor Stadium on Saturday, the 22-year-old edged past India’s Tanvi Reddy Andluri 22-20, 21-23, 21-17 in a gripping three-game battle to seal a 2-1 victory.

Speaking to Daily Sun after the final, Ishika said the triumph carried special meaning for her.

“This win means a lot to me. Last year, I reached the semifinals in this tournament here, so coming back this year and winning the title feels really special. I’m happy that I could improve from last year and take that extra step,” she said.

Born in India, Ishika moved to the United States with her family at the age of two due to her father’s job. She began playing badminton at the age of ten and gradually rose through the junior circuit in the USA before recently stepping onto the professional stage.

Despite being the first sportsperson in her family, Ishika said she has always enjoyed strong backing from home.

“My family supports me a lot. My dad is very passionate about sports. He always wanted his daughters to do well in sports, and that motivation really drives me,” she told Daily Sun.

Reflecting on her experience in Bangladesh, the USA shuttler praised both the crowd and the playing conditions.

“I really enjoyed playing in Bangladesh. Also, the crowd support during matches was amazing. The courts are very good—there’s no drift and everything feels very accurate,” she said.

Ishika also highlighted the organisers’ efforts in ensuring players’ comfort and safety throughout the tournament.

“Whenever there were safety concerns, transportation was arranged very well. If I needed to go to the hall immediately, they made sure everything was taken care of. That really helps players stay focused,” she added.

Although of Indian origin, Ishika represents the United States, a decision she described as practical.

“I live in the USA now and my citizenship will be there, so it makes sense to play for the US. Playing for India would mean relocating back, which would be difficult,” she explained.

She also shed light on the unique challenges of competing as a USA shuttler.

“In the US, we don’t really have an official national team structure. Everyone trains individually and manages things on their own, individually figuring out everything. So, a result like this gives me a lot of confidence,” she said.

Ishika travelled to Dhaka largely on her own from the United States. The only other USA player at the tournament was men’s singles shuttler Isaac Yang, who accompanied her from the USA.

“It’s always helpful to have someone familiar around, even if we’re competing individually,” Ishika noted.

Looking ahead, her ambitions remain clear and ambitious.

“My biggest dream is to qualify for the LA 2028 Olympics. I also want to play at the highest level, represent my country in events like the Uber Cup, stay injury-free and enjoy my badminton,” she said.

A keen admirer of Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon, Ishika also recalled her training experiences in India, including sessions at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, where she had the opportunity to train alongside Olympic medallist PV Sindhu.

Her maiden gold medal in Dhaka marked a breakthrough moment in her career and underlined her steady rise on the international circuit — one that now points firmly towards the LA 2028 Olympic dream.