Abhinav Bindra and P.V. Sindhu Impressed by Young shuttler Tanvi Patri's Passion

India's first individual Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra has praised 15-year-old badminton player Tanvi Patri. Despite Tanvi losing the match played in Dakar, her stubbornness to not give up and her fighting nature left a deep impression on Bindra. According to a Sportsstar report, Bindra praised Tanvi's performance through a post on social media.

Bindra stated that even when the match seemed to be slipping from her grasp, Tanvi fought for every point with extraordinary determination. Bindra, the 10m air rifle champion of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, added that Tanvi has taught everyone a lesson in resilience and courage. He noted that the biggest lessons in sports are not always gained from winning, but from the spirit of continuing to fight even after losing.

Addressing Tanvi directly, Bindra said that she has made India very proud and that he has become a lifelong fan of hers. Bindra wrote in his post, "Sometimes sports give us moments that stay with us regardless of the result. Watching 15-year-old Tanvi Patri in Dakar was such a moment for me. When the match seemed to be slipping away, she refused to give up. It was truly extraordinary to see the determination with which she fought for every point."

He further mentioned that he was greatly inspired by Tanvi's performance. At the age of just 15, she reminded him that winning is not everything in sports. Bindra expressed hope that Tanvi would realize how many people she inspired that day. Encouraging Tanvi, he said that many matches, wins, and disappointments will come in the road ahead, but if she keeps this same passion with her, her future journey will be wonderful.

On the other hand, two-time Olympic medalist P.V. Sindhu also reacted to Bindra's post. Sindhu agreed with Bindra's sentiments and expressed confidence in Tanvi's potential. Sindhu wrote, "Abhinav, I completely agree with you! Tanvi is an incredible talent. Her maturity, composure, and understanding of the game at such a young age are remarkable. There is still a long way to go, but she truly has all the qualities to become something special!"

Tanvi Patri won the silver medal in women's singles badminton at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games held in Dakar on Thursday. With this, she has become the first Indian woman to reach the badminton final and win a medal at the Youth Olympics. These encouraging words from two of India's greatest athletes at the start of her career will provide a huge boost of confidence for Tanvi.

Abhinav Bindra won India's first individual Olympic gold medal by winning the gold in the 10m air rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.