Chemistry, consistency and belief propel Shikha Gautam and Ashwini Bhat to national glory
Bengaluru
Ashwini Bhat K admires Shikha Gautam’s explosive movement and relentless court coverage, while Shikha swears by Ashwini’s deceptive wrist work and sharp interceptions at the net. That mutual understanding — built on instinctive reactions to each other’s strengths and weaknesses — has turned them into one of India’s most formidable women’s doubles pairs.
Their chemistry was evident from the moment they teamed up six years ago, almost by chance. A last-minute withdrawal before the 2019 Senior Nationals forced Nasik-born Shikha and Bengaluru’s Ashwini to pair up. With barely two days of practice, they stunned the field to win the title in their very first tournament together.
“People called it a fluke,” Ashwini recalls. “But now we’ve won it again and several All-India titles in between. What will they say now?”
That second title arrived on Sunday in Vijayawada, where the Karnataka pair clinched the women’s doubles crown at the 87th Senior National Badminton Championships. They defeated familiar rivals Priya Devi Konjengbam of Manipur and Shruti Mishra of Uttar Pradesh 21-14, 21-18 in the final, becoming the only women’s doubles pair from Karnataka to achieve the feat.
The triumph was especially meaningful after two years of relentless training and setbacks. “We didn’t miss a single session,” Shikha says, noting that the win restored belief after a challenging period marked by health issues in 2024.
The partnership was first envisioned by coach Jagadish Yadav of the Yadav Pro Badminton Academy. “Shikha brought singles instincts and speed, Ashwini brought doubles intelligence,” he explains. “But more than technique, doubles is about bonding. They fight, patch up instantly, and that chemistry works.”
Their season has been strong beyond Nationals — bronze medals at the BWF Mangalore International Challenge, Guwahati Open and Odisha Open, and a runner-up finish at the Dutch Open.
Currently ranked 56th, with a career-high of 33 in 2023, the duo now has a clear target. “Top-25 by March 2026,” says Yadav. The ultimate aim: qualifying for the 2026 World Championships on home soil.
