Youth Olympics 2026: Tanvi Patri creates history by reaching semifinal

File Photo: Tanvi Patri is the first Indian woman to reach the badminton semi-finals at the Youth Olympic Games, where she will face Japan’s Yuzuno Watanabe. | Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN

Tanvi Patri made history by becoming the first Indian woman badminton player to reach the semifinals of the Youth Olympic Games.

Only three Indian shuttlers had reached the badminton semi-finals at the Youth Olympics before her:

HS Prannoy won silver at the inaugural edition in Singapore in 2010, Lakshya Sen was the runner-up at the 2018 edition in Buenos Aires, and Aditya Joshi made the boys singles semifinals in 2014 but left without a medal.

ALSO READ: New support team with same fiery passion: How PV Sindhu reclaimed her title-winning form

Another milestone is now within Tanvi’s reach. A semifinal win would make her the first Indian woman to win a badminton medal at the Youth Olympics.

Even if she loses, she will get another chance to play for bronze.

She will take on Japan’s Yuzuno Watanabe, whom she has faced only once before. They met at the 2024 Pathum Thani Junior International Series in Thailand, where Tanvi lost 14-21, 10-21.

Tanvi will now aim to build on this landmark run as she steps into the semifinals.