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Rithik Rasamsetti and Micah Cruz lead USA badminton hopes at Dakar 2026

Two American teenagers won their opening Youth Olympic Games matches on Monday.

By , Editor

· 1 min read

A Olympic stadium, general view
Olympic stadium (general file photo, not from this event) Photo: Óðinn / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5 ca

Rithik Rasamsetti and Micah Cruz each won 2-0 at Dakar Arena on Monday to top their Youth Olympic Games groups. Rasamsetti is seeded sixth and Cruz is 17 years old.

Key takeaways

  • Rasamsetti beat Adumintah 2-0 at Dakar Arena on Monday.
  • Cruz beat Poperezhai 2-0 in women's singles on Monday.
  • Both Americans provisionally lead their groups at Dakar 2026.
  • Group winners advance to the quarterfinals.
  • Rasamsetti called for one breakout player for USA badminton.

Rithik Rasamsetti and Micah Cruz used Dakar 2026 as a springboard to becoming the future of USA badminton after winning their opening matches on Monday, Olympics.com reported. The 15-year-old Rasamsetti defeated Obapomba Adumintah of Ghana 2-0 at Dakar Arena, while the 17-year-old Cruz beat Varvara Poperezhai of Ukraine 2-0 in the women's singles.

What we know about the USA badminton pair

Rasamsetti sits top of Group B at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games with one more day of group action to come on Tuesday, Olympics.com reported. He is the sixth seed in the men's singles. Cruz provisionally tops Group C after her straight-games win. The top player in each of the eight groups in men's and women's singles will qualify for the quarterfinals.

We need one breakout player

— Rithik Rasamsetti

com reported. He said he is definitely going to learn at Dakar 2026 and noted that past Youth Olympic Games players have gone on to become really good.

Cruz said she hopes she and Rasamsetti can be the future of USA badminton, adding that it takes hard work and experience.

Why it matters for badminton news India

Dakar 2026 is the Youth Olympic Games, and the men's singles top seed is Mady Sow of France, the junior world number one, who remained unbeaten after two matches, Olympics.com reported. Rasamsetti wants to be a breakout star for the USA, while Cruz hopes to win a medal and do well for her country in a few years.

What happens next

Rasamsetti has one more day of group action on Tuesday at Dakar 2026, Olympics.com reported. Group winners in men's and women's singles advance to the quarterfinals.

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