Tanvi Patri to compete at Dakar Youth Olympics
The 15-year-old Odisha shuttler aims to focus on her game after winning recent Asian Under-17 and senior international titles.
Odisha shuttler Tanvi Patri will compete in the women's singles and mixed doubles events at the Dakar Youth Olympics, according to Telangana Today. The 15-year-old, who is currently ranked world No. 103, begins her singles campaign in Group F against South Korea's Yu Jeong Jang on Sunday.
Patri is the highest-ranked player in her group, which also includes Australia's Smrithi Adepu and Sara Delgado. During a virtual media interaction, Patri said she feels physically and mentally prepared for the competition and intends to give her best on the court.
The shuttler enters the Youth Olympics following a productive season. She won the Asian Under-17 women's singles title in Chengdu, China, in September and secured her first senior international crown at the Pontianak International Challenge in Indonesia.
Patri also became the first Indian shuttler to secure both the Asian Under-15 and Under-17 continental junior titles after her victory in Chengdu. She noted that winning the U-17 title in the country where she spent her early childhood was a significant milestone.
The player, who trains at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, recently reached the last 16 of the World Junior Championships in Egypt. She mentioned that illness affected her performance during that tournament and noted the need for better travel planning.
Patri said she is currently working on her skills regarding the new 15-point format. She identified former Chinese player Lin Dan as her role model, citing consistency as a key lesson learned from him.
