Why she matters: India’s only two-time Olympic winning shuttler with titles from across the globe, her journey is a tale of discipline and dedication that inspires sportspersons across the board.
The first Indian woman to win silver and bronze at the Olympics and gold at the BWF World Championships, PV Sindhu is a shining beacon for sportswomen in the country. With a career-best ranking of World No.2, she’s won dozens of titles across the globe and is considered one of the best badminton players to emerge from India.
While she was born with sports in her blood — her parents were both national-level volleyball players—it’s discipline and consistency that kept PV on track to greatness. Badminton caught her fancy after she watched Pullela Gopichand in action, making her a regular at the court by the age of eight.
The two-time Olympic medallist rose to prominence after bagging bronze at the 2013 BWF World Championships. Since then, it’s been a steady year-on-year rise up the rankings that make her one of India’s most decorated shuttlers in history.
Cognisant of the eyes on her and the influence she wields over aspiring sportswomen in India, PV doesn’t take the responsibility with nonchalance.
“That sense of responsibility and pressure will always be there, but you have to know how to deal with it,” she told HELLO! at our inaugural Hall of Fame - South Awards. “There’s always going to be losses among wins, but that’s how you go through and come up in life. I know that when I walk onto a court, it’s just me and I have to give it my best no matter what.”
On the support she received along the way and for her training, she said: “The Badminton Association and Sports Authority of India have always been supportive. Today, a lot of women are coming forward, proving themselves and doing really well in every field. I’m proud to say I’m one of them, and that us women are strong and can face anything and everything.”
To see who else is on the list, grab the copy of HELLO! India’s August 2023 issue right here!
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