Tanvi Patri scripts history at 15, becomes first Indian girl to reach Youth Olympics badminton final
At just 15, Tanvi Patri has already carved her name into Indian badminton history. The young Odisha shuttler became the first Indian girl to reach the badminton singles final at the Youth Olympics, securing a historic silver medal at the Dakar 2026 Games.
Xtratime Webdesk: At just 15, Tanvi Patri has already carved her name into Indian sports history. The young Odisha shuttler became the first Indian player to reach the badminton singles final at the Youth Olympics, securing a historic silver medal at the Dakar 2026 Games.
Tanvi’s journey to the biggest stage of her career has been shaped by experiences in both China and India. Her introduction to badminton came during her childhood in China, where her father, Rabinarayan Patri, was working. With badminton facilities easily accessible, she began learning the sport and quickly developed a passion for it.
Her early progress was striking. After returning to India during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tanvi joined the Prakash Padukone Academy in Bengaluru in 2021 at the age of 10. Since then, structured training and strong performances at junior level have helped her emerge as one of India’s most promising young shuttlers.
At Dakar, Tanvi produced a series of impressive performances before reaching the final. In the semi-final, she showed remarkable composure against Japan’s Yuzuno Watanabe, winning 21-14, 11-21, 21-19 in a 54-minute contest to assure herself of a medal.
The final brought her up against China’s reigning junior world champion Zhang Yi Xin. Tanvi started strongly and took the opening game 21-15, but Zhang fought back to level the contest by winning the second game 21-13.
The deciding game turned into a gripping battle. Tanvi trailed 10-19, but refused to surrender, fighting back to level the score at 20-20 and saving five championship points. Zhang eventually edged the decider 26-24 after an 82-minute thriller.
The defeat meant silver, but Tanvi’s achievement remains historic. At 15, she has announced herself on the international stage and become the first Indian female shuttler to reach a Youth Olympics singles final, a milestone that could mark the beginning of a remarkable career.