Anupama Ramachandran wins bronze at Women's Snooker Australian Open 2026
Synopsis
Anupama Ramachandran, the IBSF World Champion and India's top women's snooker player, claimed bronze at the Australian Women's Open 2026 in Sydney — her debut at the event. The 24-year-old lost to world no. 3 Mink Nutcharut in the semis but continues a stellar season with no points to defend until February 2027, leaving her firmly in the hunt for a higher world ranking.
Key Takeaways
Anupama Ramachandran won the bronze medal at the Australian Women's Open 2026 in Sydney .
She lost to world no.
3 Mink Nutcharut in the semifinals; Anupama is currently ranked world no.
This was her debut at the Australian Women's Open, where she entered as the top seed in Group D .
The seventh edition drew a record 29 players , the largest-ever field since the event's 2018 launch.
Anupama has no ranking points to defend until February 2027 , giving her room to climb the world rankings.
She first took up snooker in 2015 and won the WWS World Cup in 2023 alongside Amee Kamani .
Anupama Ramachandran, the IBSF World Champion and world no. 8, claimed a bronze medal at the Australian Women's Open in Sydney on 20 October 2026, after falling to world no. 3 Mink Nutcharut in the semifinals. The 24-year-old Indian, who was the top seed in Group D and making her debut at this particular event, delivered a strong all-round performance before her run was ended at the penultimate stage.
How Anupama's Campaign Unfolded
Anupama cruised through the group stage and knockouts before running into Thailand's Mink Nutcharut — ranked third in the world — in the semifinals. The defeat meant she settled for the bronze, but the result still marks a competitive debut at the event. This follows her impressive outing at last month's UK Women's Championship in Leeds, where she recovered from 0-2 down to defeat world champion Panchaya Channoi in the quarter-finals, before losing to eventual champion Bai Yulu in the next round.
A Record-Breaking Edition of the Tournament
The Australian Women's Open is the second ranking event on the World Women's Snooker (WWS) Tour calendar. This seventh edition of the tournament, which was added to the tour in 2018, drew its largest-ever field of 29 players, surpassing the previous record of 27 set two years ago in New South Wales. The growing entry list reflects rising global interest in women's snooker.
Anupama's Rise in World Snooker
Anupama first picked up a cue at a summer camp in 2015 and made her WWS Tour debut at the 2023 World Cup in Thailand, where she claimed a remarkable title alongside compatriot Amee Kamani. In August 2024, she recorded her best finish at a world ranking event, reaching the final of the US Women's Open in Seattle, where she was runner-up to Ng On Yee. Prior to that breakthrough, she had reached four consecutive quarter-finals at world ranking events.
At the World Women's Snooker Championship, Anupama reached the quarter-finals for the first time in March 2024, losing 4-1 to three-time champion Ng On Yee in China. She repeated that quarter-final finish at the 2025 edition before reaching the round of 16 in the 2026 edition.
What the Rankings Picture Looks Like
With no ranking points to defend until February 2027, Anupama is well-positioned to consolidate her place inside the world's top eight. A consistent run of results across the remaining Tour events this season could see her push further up the rankings ladder. Her blend of form, youth, and growing big-match experience makes her one of the most watchable players on the women's circuit.
Point of View
With a runner-up finish at a world ranking event and consecutive deep runs at the World Championship. With no points to defend until February 2027, the ranking arithmetic heavily favours her. The bigger question is whether Indian sporting infrastructure and sponsorship will scale up around her fast enough to support a push for the world no. 1 spot — a tier Indian women's snooker has never reached.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medal did Anupama Ramachandran win at the Australian Women's Open 2026?
Anupama Ramachandran won the bronze medal at the Australian Women's Open 2026 in Sydney. She reached the semifinals before losing to world no. 3 Mink Nutcharut.
Who is Anupama Ramachandran in snooker?
Anupama Ramachandran is a 24-year-old Indian snooker player and the IBSF World Champion, currently ranked world no. 8 on the World Women's Snooker Tour. She began playing snooker in 2015 and made her WWS Tour debut at the 2023 World Cup in Thailand, where she won the title alongside Amee Kamani.
Who beat Anupama Ramachandran at the Australian Women's Open 2026?
Anupama was beaten by world no. 3 Mink Nutcharut of Thailand in the semifinals of the Australian Women's Open 2026. Nutcharut's higher ranking and experience proved decisive at the penultimate stage.
What is the Australian Women's Open in snooker?
The Australian Women's Open is the second ranking event on the World Women's Snooker Tour calendar. It was added to the tour in 2018 and the 2026 edition was the seventh instalment, attracting a record 29 players.
How does Anupama Ramachandran's ranking look for the rest of the 2026-27 season?
Anupama has no ranking points to defend until February 2027, which puts her in a strong position to move further up the world rankings with consistent performances. She is currently placed inside the world's top eight.
