New Delhi: Indian badminton sensation Tanvi Patri created history by becoming the first Indian women’s singles player to win a silver medal at the Youth Olympic Games. The 15-year-old narrowly missed out on gold after losing a thrilling final against reigning world junior champion Zhang Yi Xin in Dakar, Senegal, on Thursday.
In an intense contest lasting one hour and 22 minutes, Tanvi went down 15-21, 21-13, 26-24 in a match filled with dramatic momentum shifts. Despite facing defeat, the young Indian displayed remarkable determination, saving six match points and creating three opportunities to seal the gold medal.
Before Tanvi’s achievement, Indian shuttlers HS Prannoy in 2010 and Lakshya Sen in 2018 had won individual silver medals at the Youth Olympic Games. Sen had also secured a mixed team gold medal as part of Team Alpha, which featured players from eight different countries.
Tanvi started the final cautiously but gradually found her rhythm in the opening game. Trailing 3-5, she produced an impressive run of seven consecutive points to take a 10-5 lead. Her effective punch tosses and excellent control near the net helped her secure the opening game in 25 minutes.
She carried that momentum into the second game, racing to a 4-0 advantage. However, changing court conditions and the drift began affecting her accuracy, allowing Zhang to take control after the mid-game interval and level the match.
The deciding game proved to be a nerve-wracking battle. Zhang initially dominated with her cross-court drop shots, building a commanding 19-10 lead. Tanvi responded with a determined comeback, reducing the deficit to 19-15.
Although an attacking error gave Zhang five match points, Tanvi displayed tremendous fighting spirit to save them. She also created three opportunities to finish the contest but could not convert them.
Zhang eventually used her experience to clinch the deciding game and secure the gold medal, while Tanvi settled for a historic silver that marks a significant milestone for Indian badminton.
