13-Year-Old Tanvi Patri Wins Asian U-15 Badminton Title, Cementing Her Place Among India's Brightest Prospects

India's rising badminton star, 13-year-old Tanvi Patri, has claimed the Under-15 Girls' Singles title at the Badminton Asia U-17 & U-15 Junior Championships, held in Chengdu, China. Tanvi, who entered the tournament as the top seed, delivered a commanding performance in the final, defeating Vietnam’s Thi Thu Huyen Nguyen in straight games, 22-20, 21-11.

Patri’s victory is significant as she becomes the third Indian player to win the U-15 Girls’ Singles title, following in the footsteps of Samiya Imad Farooqui and Tasnim Mir. Remarkably, Tanvi did not drop a single game throughout the tournament, highlighting her dominance on the court.

In the final, after trailing 11-17 in the first game, Tanvi kept her composure and capitalized on her opponent's unforced errors to clinch the game. She maintained her momentum in the second game, outplaying Nguyen from the start to secure the gold medal in just 34 minutes.

Tanvi's journey to this victory is a testament to her hard work and training at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in Bangalore, where she has been honing her skills for the past two years. Originally from Balasore, Odisha, Tanvi began her badminton journey in China, where her parents, Rabinarayan Patri and Sailabala Panda, worked as software professionals. Her early training under Chinese coach Jiang Yong Yi laid a strong foundation, leading her to win several titles in China before returning to India in 2020.

Vimal Kumar, director of the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, expressed high hopes for Tanvi, comparing her early promise to that of PV Sindhu, one of India's most celebrated badminton players. He praised her temperament and technique, noting that with continued development, Tanvi could be a strong contender at the 2028 or 2032 Olympics.

Tanvi's victory, along with the bronze medal won by Gnana Dattu in the U-17 Boys' Singles event, contributed to India’s successful campaign at the championship. As Tanvi continues her ascent in the world of badminton, her future looks exceptionally bright, with many expecting her to achieve even greater milestones in the years to come.

Reference:

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