Tanvi Patri has scripted history at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, by becoming the first Indian woman to reach the final of the badminton women's singles event. The young shuttler secured her spot in the gold medal match following a hard-fought victory in the semi-finals on Wednesday.
Patri overcame Japan's second seed, Watanabe Yuzuno, in a tense three-game encounter that lasted 54 minutes. The Indian player recovered from a slow start to win the match 21-14, 11-21, 21-19, clinching the deciding game in a nail-biting finish.
This victory guarantees India its first-ever women's singles badminton medal in the history of the Youth Olympic Games. The achievement adds to India's growing legacy in the sport at this level, following the silver medals won by H.S. Prannoy in 2010 and Lakshya Sen in 2018 in the men's singles category.
The Badminton Association of India confirmed that Patri will face China's Yi Xin Zhang in the final. Zhang, who currently holds the title of world junior champion, is a formidable opponent, having previously defeated Patri during their only encounter at the Asia Junior Championships earlier this year.
Patri now stands just one victory away from becoming the first Indian woman to claim gold in badminton at the Youth Olympics. Her performance in the semi-final demonstrated significant resilience, particularly in the final game where she managed to hold her nerve against a high-seeded opponent.
The final match is set to be a highlight of the badminton competition in Dakar. As the tournament reaches its conclusion, all eyes will be on whether Patri can avenge her previous defeat against Zhang and secure the top spot on the podium for India.
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