15-year-old Tanvi Patri is breaking new ground, entering the finals of the Youth Olympic Badminton

Tanvi Patri produced a spirited match to beat Japan’s Yuzuno Watanabe 21-14, 11-21, 21-19 to reach the girls’ singles final at the Youth Olympics on Wednesday. The 15-year-old became the first Indian to reach the badminton finals at the competition, extending her impressive run in Buenos Aires.

The Odisha shuttler had to dig deep in a thrilling three-match encounter, especially after Watanabe fought through to tie the game. However, Tanvi held her nerve in a tight decider to seal a memorable win and move one win away from a historic gold medal.

Tanvi started assertively, winning the opening point and immediately putting Watanabe under pressure. The Japanese shuttler, who defeated her in their previous meeting at the 2024 Pathum Thani Junior International Series in Thailand, took time to settle into the competition.

This allowed Tanvi to build an early advantage and dictate the pace of the opening game. They held the lead for most of the game and stretched the lead to five points at the halfway mark.

Watanabe tried to find his rhythm by extending the rally and making Tanvi cover more ground. However, the Indian responded with impressive attacking play, keeping her opponent on the back foot with her smashes and cross-court positioning.

Even as Watanabe got her bearings, Tanvi continued to find ways to break through her defenses. A well-placed smash into the corner helped her regain control before finishing the opening game 21-14.

WATANABE IS FIGHTING

However, the second match brought a different challenge. Tanvi initially found herself on her heels but tried to claw her way back by increasing the intensity of her rallies.

However, Watanabe began to have success with her shots into the corners. Tanvi misjudged some of these attempts and expected them to sail beyond the baseline only for the shuttle to land inside the court.

These mistakes proved costly as the Japanese space shuttle began to depart. Watanabe also managed to drag Tanvi into longer rallies, gradually taking control of the exchanges and widening the gap.

Tanvi produced some impressive strokes towards the end of the game but couldn’t stop Watanabe from making it 21-11 to take the decision.

TANVI HOLDS NERVES

The third game turned into a test of temperament. Tanvi quickly got off the tag, but Watanabe found her rhythm and looked to take control of the contest.

The Indian refused to let the Japanese space shuttle dictate the terms for long. She fought her way back into the game, regained the lead and ensured the game remained tied.

With progress to the finals at stake, the pressure continued to mount. Watanabe managed to equalize as Tanvi showed visible frustration, briefly bowing her head and covering her face after the missed opportunity.

But the younger one responded in a way that brought her success throughout the match. She returned to her attacking game, looking to finish points with her signature smashes rather than allowing Watanabe to settle into extended rallies.

The Japanese shuttle continued to fight, leveling again and keeping the contest alive. However, Tanvi delivered a powerful slam that put Watanabe on the floor and helped her regain the advantage.

A forced error from Watanabe then put Tanvi within touching distance of victory. The Indian eventually sealed the match with another offensive effort to complete a hard-fought 21-19 win in the deciding game.

The win also marked a turnaround from her previous meeting with Watanabe, who beat her 21-14, 21-10 in Thailand last year.

ANOTHER MILESTONE FOR INDIAN BADMINTON

Tanvi’s run has already broken new ground for Indian badminton. Before her, only HS Prannoy, Lakshya Sen and Aditya Joshi had reached the semifinals of badminton at the Youth Olympics.

Prannoy won silver at the inaugural edition in Singapore in 2010, while Lakshya also finished second at the 2018 Games in Buenos Aires. Aditya reached the boys’ singles semi-finals in 2014 but returned without a medal.

Tanvi also made headlines earlier when she won the U-17 girls’ singles title at the Asian U-17 and U-15 Badminton Championships in Chengdu, becoming the first Indian shuttler to win both the continental titles.

Now he has another opportunity to add to his growing list of accomplishments with a historic Youth Olympic gold medal within reach.

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