TEXT BY OIS | BADMINTONPHOTO |
Rithik Rasamsetti knows badminton in the USA could do with a breakout star.
The 15-year-old wants to be that player, and he showed signs of his potential in a 2-0 win over Obapomba Adumintah of Ghana at Dakar Arena on Monday.
With the victory, Rasamsetti sits top of Group B at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, with one more day of group action to come on Tuesday.
“We need one breakout player,” he said. “Like after Alex Lanier, he won the BWF World Championships… now they have some of the best players.”
Indeed, the Dakar 2026 men’s singles top seed is junior world No.1 Frenchman Mady Sow, who remained unbeaten after two matches here.
As a student of the sport, Rasamsetti knows Dakar 2026 will provide the perfect platform to grow.
“I’m definitely going to learn,” the sixth seed said. “When you look at the past Youth Olympic Games, all the players that came here end up becoming really good.”
His compatriot Micah Cruz is also keen on making the most out of this opportunity.
The 17-year-old beat Varvara Poperrezhai of Ukraine in the women’s singles on Monday to provisionally top Group C.
When asked if she and Rasamsetti could be the future of USA badminton, Cruz said: “I really hope so. I really would love it, but that just takes a lot of hard work and a lot of experience, and I’m just hoping that in a few years I can do well for USA. Hopefully starting now, if I win a medal.”
The top player in each of the eight groups in men’s and women’s singles will qualify for the quarterfinals.
