Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s 15-year-old badminton sensation Tanvi Patri has scripted history by winning a silver medal in the women’s singles event at the Dakar Youth Olympic Games 2026, becoming the first Indian woman shuttler to win a badminton medal at the prestigious sporting event.
Tanvi’s remarkable achievement is more special considering that she was battling the effects of food poisoning just three weeks ago. The young shuttler staged an inspiring comeback to reach the podium in Senegal’s capital, Dakar.
In a thrilling three-game final, Tanvi went down fighting against China’s Zhang Yi Xin, the reigning world junior champion. She lost 15-21, 21-13, 24-26 after a closely contested encounter.
Tanvi trains at the Centre of Badminton Excellence in Bengaluru under the guidance of veteran coach Vimal Kumar. She is often regarded as one of India’s promising young badminton talents and is being compared to Olympic medallist P V Sindhu.
Comeback after food poisoning
Tanvi’s journey to the Youth Olympics podium was far from smooth. She suffered food poisoning during the World Junior Championships in Cairo last month, raising concerns about her fitness and preparation for the subsequent international competition.
Her father, Rabinarayan Patri, said the illness had threatened to derail her performance and preparations for the Youth Olympics.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, he said the food poisoning had affected her World Junior Championships campaign and put her preparation for the Dakar Games in jeopardy. He attributed the illness to a hectic travel schedule and inadequate facilities during the event.
Despite the setback, Tanvi recovered in time and delivered a series of impressive performances in Dakar. She defeated Japan’s Yuzuno Watanabe 21-14, 11-21, 21-19 in a hard-fought semi-final to book her place in the gold medal match.
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