“I was thinking that I shouldn’t give up. I wanted to minimise my errors, play well and give my best until the very end.”
With those words, 15-year-old Tanvi Patri summed up an unforgettable moment in Indian sport. The shuttler from Odisha created history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a badminton medal at the Youth Olympic Games. RevSportz reported that Patri settled for silver in the women’s singles final after a nerve-wracking contest against China’s Zhang Yi Xin, which lasted one hour and 20 minutes. Zhang claimed the gold medal, recovering from a 21-15 loss in the opening game to win the next two 21-13, 26-24.
Tanvi's Remarkable Comeback
The defining moment of the final was the third game, which will be remembered for Tanvi’s extraordinary resilience. Trailing 10-19 and subsequently 15-20, the Indian produced a remarkable comeback to level the score at 20-20 and push the contest all the way to 24-26.
According to IndiaToday.in, at 10-19 down, Tanvi appeared to be running out of energy. Zhang, two years older, was pushing her towards the back of the court with deceptive drops, making her work for almost every point. There were moments when Tanvi rushed her winners, but she adjusted her strategy. She stopped looking for quick finishes, began trusting her ability to sustain rallies, and fought back from 10-19 to 20-20, saving five gold-medal points in the process. Zhang saved three of her own before a net cord and the finest of margins separated the two teenagers.
“It feels really good to be part of history,” Tanvi said, reflecting on her achievement. “I hope to continue playing well in the next tournaments and in the future.”
A Journey Forged on Two Continents
While the silver medal is an important achievement for Indian badminton, Tanvi Patri’s journey to the Youth Olympics podium is a story of unique beginnings. Badminton was not her first sport. Her introduction to competitive sport came through figure skating in China, where her father, Rabinarayan, was working.
Tanvi Patri Makes History with Youth Olympics Final Berth Indian badminton player Tanvi Patri has become the first Indian woman to reach a badminton final at the Youth Olympic Games after defeating Japan’s Yuzuno Watanabe in the girls’ singles semi-final on November 4. The… pic.twitter.com/5znvU94RjG
She lived with her parents in Taikang, near Shanghai, and regularly visited a park to practise. “There was a big park where I used to go figure skating every Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday evening,” she recalled.
Her badminton journey started through her father. Rabinarayan, who had grown up in Odisha without the financial means to pursue badminton seriously, found a different sporting culture in China. “So it all started from China, actually,” he explained. “Because I was in China for a long time because of my job. And when I had an interest in playing some sports, especially badminton, I couldn’t pursue it because of financial conditions and infrastructure not being available.”
In China, courts and clubs were accessible, and coaching was affordable. Rabinarayan began playing at a local club, where his young daughter met a Chinese coach who helped her understand the basics. “My father used to play badminton at a club in China,” Tanvi said. “That is where I met a Chinese coach who helped me with my technique. Every evening, I would go with my father to the club and play with him and other players. That helped me a lot with my technique and footwork, and that is how my badminton journey started.”
IndiaToday.in reported that the coach had two students: Tanvi and her father. While he trained the young girl, he also corrected Rabinarayan’s technique, asking him to practise at home so he could play with his daughter outside of sessions.
From Skating to the Shuttle Court
Her background in figure skating has continued to benefit Tanvi on the badminton court. The sport helped her develop balance and coordination, crucial for demanding movements. “I think figure skating has also helped me maintain my balance,” she said. “Sometimes, when we take a lunge, our body can become imbalanced. Figure skating has helped me with balance during lunges, jumps and landings.”
Tanvi also trained in roller skating during her early years, which helped her develop balance and coordination.
After returning from China in 2020, Tanvi spent about a year and a half training in her home state of Odisha before joining the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in March 2023. RevSportz reported that she acknowledged the contribution of the coaching and support staff, including coaches Sagar Sir, Vimal Sir, and Rana Sir, and physiotherapists Vaishnavi Ma’am and Siddha Sir.
A Path to the Podium
Tanvi’s medal in Dakar caps a remarkable rise in the junior circuit. She is the reigning Asian U-17 champion and also won the Asian U-15 title in 2024, becoming the first Indian shuttler to claim both continental junior championships.
Her path to the final at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics was impressive. Entering the tournament as the third seed, she opened her campaign with dominant victories over Mexico’s Sara Gonzalez (21-8, 21-12) and Australia’s Smrithi Adepu (21-4, 21-12). She also beat South Korea’s Jeong Yu Jang to advance to the knockout stages.
In the quarter-finals, Tanvi defeated Thailand’s Kakanik Kungkaew 21-17, 21-13 in 39 minutes. This victory made her the first Indian woman to reach the badminton semi-finals at the Youth Olympic Games. Her semi-final against Japan’s second seed, Yuzuno Watanabe, was more challenging. Tanvi won the opening game 21-14, but Watanabe fought back to take the second 21-11. The Indian youngster regained control in the decider, edging past her opponent 21-19 to book her place in the final.
With her silver medal, Tanvi has joined a select group of Indian badminton players who have medaled at the Youth Olympics. H.S. Prannoy won silver at the inaugural edition in 2010, Lakshya Sen finished runner-up in 2018, and Aditya Joshi reached the semi-finals in 2014. Tanvi’s achievement is historic as she is the first Indian woman to win a singles medal at the event.
Tanvi's Olympic Experience
The Indian supporters in Dakar helped greatly, their chants of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ audible even on the digital broadcast during her comeback in the deciding game. Tanvi expressed her gratitude: “I thank everyone who supported me. It motivated me to go all out.”
From China to the Youth Olympics podium, Tanvi Patri's badminton journey is anything but ordinary! 🏸 How a father's leap of faith helped shape India's rising star. @iamnotakshayr tells the story. Read here 👇https://t.co/WNf7lm4wFI
Tanvi also spoke about the challenges of the Olympic Village. “The Olympic Village was really nice, but the main problem was that there was no AC in the rooms,” she said. “It was really hot, so I used to go to the Athlete 365 House to get some air conditioning. Overall, the village and the venue were really good. The food was also very good,” she added, noting the wide variety of cuisines available.
However, celebrations of her historic achievement will have to wait. Tanvi has little time to dwell on her silver medal. “I don’t think there will be much celebration immediately,” she said. “When I return to the academy, I think I will celebrate there. Next week, I am going to Indonesia for an International Challenge tournament. I hope to give my best and play well there.”
Tanvi Patri's Badminton Journey
Who is Tanvi Patri?
Tanvi Patri is a 15-year-old badminton player from Odisha, India. She is the reigning Asian U-17 champion and won the Asian U-15 title in 2024, becoming the first Indian shuttler to claim both continental junior championships.
What did Tanvi Patri achieve at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics?
Tanvi Patri became the first Indian woman to win a badminton medal at the Youth Olympic Games, securing a silver medal in the women’s singles final.
HARD LUCK, TANVI PATRI!!!! 💔🥹 15YO TANVI WINS THE SILVER MEDAL IN BADMINTON YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES 2026! 🥈 She goes down fighting to the Reigning Junior World Champion Zhang Yi Xin 🇨🇳 in Finals 15-21, 21-13, 24-26 ALMOST WON OLYMPIC GOLD FOR INDIA! SUPER PROUD OF YOU, TANVI…
How did Tanvi Patri start her badminton career?
Tanvi began playing badminton in China, where her father was posted for work. Her father introduced her to the sport at a local club, where a Chinese coach helped her develop her technique and footwork.
What is Tanvi Patri’s next competition?
Immediately following the Youth Olympics, Tanvi Patri is scheduled to compete in an International Challenge tournament in Indonesia.
Earlier coverage: Tanvi Patri Makes History as First Indian Woman to Reach Youth Olympics Badminton Semifinals
More on Tanvi Patri
A phenomenal performance by Odisha's rising badminton star, Tanvi Patri! At just 15, she fought back from 10–19 down, saved five match points and pushed the Youth Olympic Games final to an extraordinary finish against China's Zhang Yi Xin. Though she narrowly missed out on gold,… pic.twitter.com/mh60P5vBB4
