PV Sindhu on Sunday became the first Indian to win badminton World Championships gold by beating Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara.
“Last time, I lost in the final, before that also I lost in the final, so it is a very important win for me. I want to thank the crowd for supporting me. I won it for my country and I am very proud being an Indian,” Sindhu was quoted as saying by PTI after the match.
When asked about the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she said, “Olympics is not so far but right now it is step-by-step for me. I know the Olympic qualification is going so I hope I do well, but right now I just want to enjoy it and don’t want to think anything else.
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Here are five reasons why her World Championships win is particularly sweet:
1. Sindhu had lost to Okuhara and Olympic champion Carolina Marin of Spain respectively in the 2017 and 2018 finals to settle for the silver twice.
2. It was Sindhu’s fifth World Championships medal ― most by a female singles player alongside former Olympic and world champion Zhang Ning of China.
3. Sindhu is now the joint highest medal winner in women’s singles in its World Championships history with former Olympic champion Zhang Ning of China who has won an identical 1 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze between 2001 and 2007.
4. Two years ago, Sindhu and Okuhara battled for 110-minutes, the longest final in the history of the tournament, according to India Today. She, however, finished with a silver. This year, she won 21-7, 21-7 in the summit clash that lasted just 38 minutes.
5. Sindhu said the gold medal is her answer to all the critics who questioned her. “This is my answer to the people who have asked me questions over and over. I just wanted to answer with my racket and with this win — that’s all,” Sindhu was quoted as saying by the Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) official website.
(With PTI inputs)