Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj, the 18-year-old Indian badminton prodigy from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, clinched the women’s singles title at the Yonex Sunrise Vietnam International Challenge 2026 in Hanoi on Sunday, March 29. Born on April 4, 2007, Rakshitha moved to Hyderabad at a young age with her mother to train full-time at the prestigious Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy. Under the guidance of former Olympic medallist Pullela Gopichand and coach Rahul Yadav Chittaboina, she has transformed from a steady rally player into a sharp, aggressive competitor known for her tactical mind and powerful back-court punches.
Seeded second and ranked world No. 55, Rakshitha powered through the draw with composure and speed. In a gripping final against Hong Kong’s Lo Sin Yan Happy, she trailed 16-21 in the first game but staged a brilliant comeback, winning the next two 21-15 and 21-16 to lift the trophy. The victory adds to her growing list of international successes, including the Slovenia Open and India International titles in 2024.
Speaking after the match, Rakshitha credited her coaches: “They keep pushing me to be aggressive on big points. This win means everything.” The title is expected to boost her BWF ranking significantly and marks another proud moment for Indian badminton.
At just 18, the 5’6” shuttler from the Gopichand Academy is proving she belongs among the world’s rising stars. Fans and experts see this as the start of a promising senior career