Here are some interesting facts about PV Sindhu
What's the story
PV Sindhu is one of the top shuttlers, across the globe. Having won the gold at the World Championships this year, Sindhu asserted her dominance as one of the all-time greats of Indian badminton. Currently ranked sixth in the world, she has won a number of accolades and scripted numerous records. Here, we take a look at some of the interesting facts about her.
Arjuna awardee
She is the daughter of an Arjuna awardee volleyball player
In case you are wondering, Sindhu is not just the only sportsperson in her family. She has followed the footsteps of her father, who was a national level volleyball player. PV Ramana was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2000 for his contribution to Indian volleyball. Notably, her mother Vijaya too was a professional national-level volleyball player. Her sister played handball at the national level.
Inspiration
Pullela Gopichand is her inspiration
Every athlete has one person who inspires her to scale greater heights. For Sindhu, it is badminton great Pullela Gopichand. It was his 2001 All England Open Badminton Championship win which motivated Sindhu, as she developed a love for the sport. Initially she too wanted to play volleyball, but Gopichand's win inspired her to take up badminton, as he is also her coach now.
Do you know?
She initially trained under Mehboob Ali
While Sindhu was inspired by Gopichand and later started playing under him, her initial training came under Mehboob Ali. It was under him that she learned the basics of the game, at the Indian Railway Institute of Signal Engineering and Telecommunications in Secunderabad.
Inspiring
She used to travel 56 kms to train under Gopichand
Sindhu showed immense dedication for the sport and her drive to become a top badminton player. She used to travel 56 kms to train at Gopichand's academy, and was punctual as well. "It is perhaps a reflection of her willingness to complete her desire to be a good badminton player with the required hard work and commitment," a critic wrote about Sindhu.
Olympic silver
First Indian singles player to win Olympic silver
Sindhu also holds a prestigious record of being the only singles Indian player in the sport to have won an Olympic silver. She achieved the feat during the 2016 Rio Olympics. The only other Indian singles player to win an Olympic medal in the sport is Saina Nehwal, who won a bronze in 2012. In 2020, she would be aiming for gold.