‘Lifelong admirer’: Abhinav Bindra’s special message for 15-year-old Tanvi Patri

Tanvi Patri (Image credit: X) Fifteen-year-old Indian badminton player Tanvi Patri may have missed out on a gold medal at the Dakar Youth Olympics, but her fighting spirit has won praise from some of India’s biggest sports stars.India’s first Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra was impressed with the way Tanvi fought till the very end in the women’s singles final despite coming close to defeat.In a post on social media, Bindra praised the youngster for refusing to give up and fighting for every point. He said her performance left a lasting impression on him. The 10m air rifle gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics said Tanvi showed everyone the importance of courage and never giving up. He also pointed out that the sport learns some of its greatest lessons through defeat.“Every once in a while, sport gives us a moment that stays with us, regardless of the outcome. Watching 15-year-old Tanvi Patri in Dakar was one of those moments for me. Even when the match seemed to be slipping away, she simply refused to give up. She fought for every point, with a determination that was quite extraordinary to watch,” Bindra wrote.“She may have lost the match, but I think she taught us all something about perseverance, courage and what it really means to keep going when things don’t go your way. I was deeply inspired by her performance. At just 15 years old, she reminded us that sometimes the biggest lessons in sports don’t come from winning,” he said.“Tanvi, I hope you realize how many people you inspired that day. There will be many more struggles, victories and disappointments along the way. But if you carry the same spirit with you, you are in for a wonderful journey. You have made India very proud. And you have certainly gained a lifelong admirer in me,” said Bindra.

PV Sindhu endorses Tanvia’s talent

Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu also praised the young shuttler and agreed with Bindra.“Couldn’t agree with you more Abhinav! Tanvi is an incredible talent. Her maturity, poise and understanding of the game at such a young age is remarkable. She still has a long way to go but has all the ingredients to become something truly special!” Sindhu wrote.Praise from two of India’s biggest sports stars will be a big boost for Tanvi as she looks to build her career.

Tanvi makes history despite missing gold

Tanvi on Thursday made history by becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual silver medal in badminton at the Youth Olympics.The 15-year-old put up a strong fight against China’s Zhang Yi Xin in the final but lost 21-15, 13-21, 24-26 in a match that lasted one hour and 22 minutes.Tanvi saved six match points and also had three chances to win the gold medal. However, Zhang, the reigning world junior champion, held her nerve to win the decider.Before Tanvi, HS Prannoy (2010) and Lakshya Sen (2018) were the only Indians to win individual silver medals in badminton at the Youth Olympics.Despite the heartbreak in the final, Tanvi said the silver medal will motivate her to do better in future tournaments.“I think this success means a lot to me and will encourage me to play well in future tournaments. And next year I will compete in Indonesia at the International Challenge Tournament. I hope to play well there,” she said after the match.Tanvi started the final slowly but soon found her rhythm. She scored seven straight points to take a 10-5 lead in the opening game and win 21-15.She also started the second match well, taking a 4-0 lead. However, Zhang fought back and won the match 21-13 to decide the match. The Chinese player then took control of the third game and opened up a 19-10 lead. But Tanvi refused to give up and fought her way back to 19-15. After saving five match points, Tanvi was given three chances to finish the match and win the gold. However, Zhang’s experience helped her hold on and win the decider 26-24.