Abhinav Bindra praises shuttler Tanvi Patri; PV Sindhu calls her ‘special’

Tanvi Patri lost the match in Dakar, but she won the admiration of Abhinav Bindra and PV Sindhu. | Photo Credit: BAI Media

Abhinav Bindra, India’s first individual Olympic gold medallist, has heaped praise on 15-year-old Tanvi Patri, saying her refusal to give up in Dakar left a lasting impression on him, even though she lost.

In a social media post, Bindra said that even when the match appeared to be slipping away, she fought for every point with extraordinary determination.

The 2008 Beijing Olympics 10m air rifle champion said she had taught everyone a lesson in perseverance and courage and that the greatest lessons in sport don’t always come from winning.

Addressing the youngster directly, he said she had made India very proud and had earned a lifelong admirer in him.

Every once in a while, sport gives us a moment that stays with us, regardless of the result. 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. She may have lost the match, but I think she taught all of us something about perseverance, courage and what it really means to keep going when things aren't going your way. I found her performance deeply inspiring. At just 15, she reminded us that sometimes the greatest lessons in sport don't come from winning. Tanvi, I hope you realise how many people you inspired that day. There will be many more matches, victories and disappointments along the way. But if you carry this same spirit with you, you have a wonderful journey ahead. You made India very proud. And you certainly earned a lifelong admirer in me.

— Abhinav A. Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) November 6, 2026

Tanvi won silver in women’s singles badminton at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, becoming the first Indian woman to reach a badminton final and win a medal at the Youth Olympics on Thursday.

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu responded to the post, agreeing with Bindra and backing Tanvi’s potential.

“Couldn’t agree more with you, Abhinav! Tanvi is an incredible talent. Her maturity, composure and understanding of the game at such a young age are remarkable. Still a long road ahead, but she has all the ingredients to become something truly special!” Sindhu wrote.

The words of encouragement from two of India’s biggest sporting names are a significant boost for the teenager, who is still at the start of her career.