Tanvi Patri, just 15 , has her favourites and takes qualities from each. But she does not come across as overly impressionable. She builds her own Lego blocks in her spare time, and her badminton looks geared towards developing in much the same way.

“Viktor Axelsen, Lin Dan, Tai Tzu Ying…” she recites, in a media interaction facilitated by the Badminton Association of India after returning from the Youth Olympics with a silver. “I like their attitude. They don’t give up easily, even when they are trailing. Their strokes are great in close situations. And they are always patient.” Patience is the ingredient the youngster sees as all-important.

She came back from 10-19 down in the decider before going down 24-26 to China’s Zhang Yi Xin, the reigning world junior champion. Tanvi displayed plenty of patience, and her coaches point to her poise before every serve.…