Watch: Tanisha Crasto fuels forward with clear-cut goals

Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila came within a few points of the 2026 Asian Games semifinal at Aichi-Nagoya. In the mixed doubles quarterfinals in Ichinomiya, they took China's top-ranked Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping to a third game, cutting a six-point deficit to two before falling short 14-21, 21-18 & 18-21.

The result matters for a player with a growing pedigree. Tanisha arrived at Aichi-Nagoya as an Olympian and as half of India's leading mixed pair, after a run that included a World Championship quarterfinal in 2025 and a gold at the 2024 Asia Team Championships.

While she did fall agonisingly short of a medal, her run at the 2026 Asian Games is continued proof of the quality she possesses. 

Learning on tour

Before heading to Japan, Tanisha spoke to The Bridge about the demands of the BWF World Tour: constant travel, quick adjustment to different courts and the need to perform week after week. She talked about lessons learned from experienced partner Ashwini Ponnappa, which helped her step up to the Olympic stage in Paris.

Her partnership with Dhruv, she said, rests on clear communication, complementary styles and trust. Behind it sit recovery, video analysis and careful preparation. Hydration is central to that routine, and Tanisha said she believes in Fast & Up, which backs the #FuelForward series on how Indian athletes fuel their careers.

The road to the podium

Tanisha grew up in Dubai and moved to Hyderabad at 16 to pursue her dream. Now the Olympic medal is her biggest goal, and she wants to win major titles for India.

Her advice to young players is to work hard, keep learning and hold onto the joy of the game, even when the schedule is relentless.