Youth Olympics: Tanvi Patri makes history, becomes first Indian woman to reach semifinals of badminton

NEW DELHI: India’s rising badminton star Tanvi Patri on Wednesday made history at the Dakar Youth Olympics by becoming the first Indian woman to reach the semifinals of the badminton event.The 15-year-old Odisha native achieved the milestone with an impressive straight sets victory over Thailand’s seventh seed Kakanik Kungkaew in the women’s singles quarterfinals. Third seed Tanvi won 21-17, 21-13 in 39 minutes to book her place in the last four.With the win, Tanvi joined an exclusive group of Indian shuttlers to reach the semifinals of badminton at the Youth Olympics. However, she is the first woman in the country to do so.Only three Indian players have reached this stage before. HS Prannoy won silver at the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore in 2010, while Lakshya Sen also finished second at the 2018 edition in Buenos Aires. Aditya Joshi reached the boys’ singles semi-finals in 2014 but returned without a medal.

Japan’s Yuzuno Watanabe is next in line for Tanvi

Tanvi, who trains at the Center for Excellence in Bengaluru, will face Japan’s Yuzuno Watanabe in the semi-finals. The Indian youngster will be looking to settle an old score against her Japanese opponent, who lost their only previous match at the 2024 Pathum Thani Junior International Series in Thailand. Watanabe won that encounter 21-14, 21-10.A win in the semifinals would guarantee Tanvi at least a silver medal and make her the first Indian woman to win a medal in badminton at the Youth Olympics. Even if he loses in the last four, he will have another opportunity to fight for bronze.Tanvi had earlier qualified for the knockout stage of the Women’s Singles Group F with three consecutive victories. In her final group match, she defeated Australia’s Smrithi Adepa 21-4, 21-12 in a winner-takes-all contest.

Another milestone in a promising career

A breakthrough at the Youth Olympics adds to Tanvi’s growing list of achievements. She had earlier won the girls’ under-17 singles title at the Asian Under-17-15 Badminton Championships in Chengdu, China after defeating her compatriot in the all-India final.With this triumph, she became the first Indian shuttler to win both the U-15 and U-17 continental titles.Now, the Odisha teenager has another opportunity to make Dakar history. Making it to the final would not only secure her a medal but also another major milestone for Indian badminton at the Youth Olympics.