Who is Tanvi Patri? The 15-year-old Indian shuttler who won silver at the 2026 Youth Olympics

Tanvi Patri is a Youth Olympics silver medallist. | Photo Credit: BAI MEDIA

Tanvi Patri is an Indian badminton player who made history at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, by becoming the first Indian woman to win a badminton medal at the competition.

The 15-year-old from Odisha claimed silver in the women’s singles event after losing to China’s reigning World Junior Champion Zhang Yi Xin in a gripping final on Thursday. Tanvi pushed her opponent all the way before going down 15-21, 21-13, 26-24 in an 82-minute contest.

The result added her to a select group of Indian badminton players to have reached the podium at the Youth Olympics. H.S. Prannoy won silver at the inaugural edition in 2010, while Lakshya Sen finished runner-up in 2018.

Tanvi Patri’s early life and introduction to badminton

Unlike many young Indian shuttlers, Tanvi’s introduction to badminton came in China. She took up the sport at the age of six when her father, Rabinarayan Patri, was working for an IT firm near Shanghai.

A recreational badminton player during his college days, Rabinarayan resumed playing after moving to China. Tanvi soon followed him to the court, where her interest in the sport began to take shape.

With English-medium schools difficult to find, Tanvi spent much of her childhood playing sport while being home-schooled by her mother, Sailabala Panda, who also worked in the IT industry.

Her early development also benefited from the guidance of celebrated Chinese coach Jiang Yong Yi, who has trained several Olympic and World medallists.

Tanvi Patri’s badminton achievements

Tanvi has already established herself as one of India’s promising young badminton players. She is the reigning Asian U-17 champion and also won the Asian U-15 title in 2024.

She trains at the Centre of Badminton Excellence in Bengaluru, where she continues to develop her game.