They might be overshadowed by India’s singles stars and the more successful doubles in Sarwik-Chirag. But India’s top ranked mixed doubles Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila are trying to find stability even when things get spiky and difficult on court.
This includes Dhruv professing his love for the Japanese drink Matcha, while Tanisha crinkles her nose at the beverage. “It tastes like grass!” she declares. They completed a 30-minute 21-11, 21-11 saunter over Macau’s Chong-Chi anyway, to get their World Championships campaign underway.
For the fiery pairing that struck consistency around 2024 but had gone off the boil after the last World’s, where they made quarters on an impressive debut, off-court practices have forged a stronger bond. Coach Tan Kim Her insists on pairings working on ironing out creases of habit, away from the field of play. “We have been analysing matches together which gives us more clarity,” Tanisha says.
The pairing each came from men’s and women’s doubles respectively. And Tanisha had more of the adjustment to do, even as Dhruv would shoulder the backcourt attack. The mixed doubles explosive movement to the front court needed a bolt start, given it was a massive departure from women’s doubles. “The aggressive moving in to the frontcourt was something Coach Tan worked on that was different from my court play with Ashwini Ponappa in women’s doubles,” Tanisha says of ensuring that she is constantly on the move while Dhruv covers the backcourt.
“He’s made our game more physical,” Dhruv adds.
The duo stuck to flatter lengths on crosses on Wednesday, but will be suddenly thrown into a speed storm on Thursday when they play Chinese Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui, seeded sixth, who wrapped up their match I under 25 minutes.
The uphill climb will need the consistency in temperament that comes from stabilizing their mindsets. “Basically, to not be too happy when we win. And too down on losses. Just keep the graph steady,” Dhruv says. Tanisha in all her exuberance maintains there’s more good days than bad now, though they brutally disagree on what they think of Matcha on any given day.