Anushka Chhabria, Mahika Rathod Clinch U16 Girls Doubles Gold at Indian Open 2026

Anushka Chhabria arrived at CrossCourts in Hyderabad on April 2 already holding a U16 Girls Singles title. She left with two more medals.

Paired with Mahika Rathod, Chhabria captured the Under-16 Girls Doubles gold at the Indian Open 2026, defeating Paviksha Sathiya Moorthy and PK Dhiyaa 21-17 in a final that wasn't settled until the pair strung together a decisive four-point run from 17-17 to close out the match.

That sequence told the story of the afternoon. Chhabria and Rathod mixed angle shots and well-timed lobs to break the deadlock, converting net put-aways that Paviksha and Dhiyaa had no answer for down the stretch. That it came to 17-17 at all speaks to how competitive the encounter was: Paviksha and Dhiyaa pushed with aggressive service returns and quick net finishes throughout, keeping the champions honest for the full duration.

Composure in the transition points proved the difference. Chhabria's tournament week at the PWR 1000-rated event produced three medals across three formats: the singles gold, the doubles gold, and a bronze in the U16 mixed event. The breadth of that haul, sustained over a single week at a major domestic competition, marks her as a player being deliberately developed for multi-format competition at the national junior level.

Rathod's contribution went beyond a supporting role. Her tactical calm and court coverage complemented Chhabria's finishing instincts, and the pair's ability to absorb pressure and stay composed at a pivotal scoreline will make them a pairing to watch at national junior selections.

The U16 final also illustrated the Indian Open's dual function in the sport's domestic calendar. At PWR 1000 status, the event draws senior and amateur talent at a level that forces junior competitors to absorb international-style match cadence and longer formats. The 21-point doubles format demands a sustained concentration that the quicker 11-point adult structures do not, and navigating that arc under pressure is precisely the kind of preparation India needs if it intends to convert junior results into senior international representation.

The Indian Open continues through April 5, and Chhabria and Rathod's gold is already one of its defining junior performances.