Kristian Ferrell
PV Sindhu, full name Pusarla Venkata Sindhu, is a professional badminton player from India. She was born in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana), India, on 5 July 1995, to PV Ramana and P Vijaya, both national-level volleyball players. At the age of six, Sindhu was inspired by Pullela Gopichand to take up badminton after witnessing his win at the 2001 All England Open Badminton Championships. She began training at the Mahboob Ali Badminton Academy at the age of eight and later joined Gopichand's academy. Sindhu demonstrated exceptional discipline and commitment from a young age, and her hard work paid off as she started winning competitions and climbing the BWF World Rankings. She rose to prominence in 2012 when she broke into the top 20 rankings at the age of 17. Sindhu went on to become the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals and the first to win a gold medal at the BWF World Championships.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 5th July 1995 |
| Place of Birth | Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Parents | PV Ramana and P. Vijaya |
| Education | Auxilium High School, Hyderabad; St. Ann's College for Women, Hyderabad; Honorary doctorate from Chennai Vels University |
| Inspiration | Pullela Gopichand |
| Coaching | Mehboob Ali; Gopichand's Badminton Academy |
| Diet | Strictly controlled, especially before big events |
| International Debut | March 2009 |
| Notable Achievements | First Indian woman to win an Olympic silver medal; Youngest Indian to take a podium finish in an individual event at the Olympics; First Indian woman to win two Olympic medals; First Indian woman to win a gold medal at the BWF Championships; First Indian woman to win a medal at the Badminton World Championship; Only the second women's singles player to win a full set of medals at the Commonwealth Games |
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What You'll Learn
PV Sindhu's early life and family
PV Sindhu was born on 5 July 1995 in Hyderabad, Telangana, India, to PV Ramana and P Vijaya, who were national-level volleyball players. Her father, Ramana, was a member of the Indian volleyball team that won bronze at the 1986 Seoul Asian Games and received the Arjuna Award in 2000. Sindhu's elder sister, PV Divya, is a national-level handball player who became a doctor.
Although her parents played volleyball, Sindhu chose badminton over it at a young age. She was inspired by Pullela Gopichand, the 2001 All England Open Badminton Champion. Her badminton coaching started in Secunderabad under Mehboob Ali, after which she joined Gopichand's Badminton Academy.
Sindhu demonstrated great potential from an early age, winning competitions and breaking into the top 20 of the BWF World Ranking in 2012 at 17. She made her senior international debut in March 2009 and became India's first-ever Asian Junior Champion in 2012.
The athlete completed her education at Auxilium High School, Hyderabad, and later pursued a Master of Business Administration from St. Ann's College for Women in the same city. She also holds an honorary doctorate from Chennai Vels University.
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Choosing badminton over volleyball
PV Sindhu, the Indian badminton player, made her mark on the international stage by choosing badminton as her sporting path, despite having a family background in volleyball. Her journey to becoming one of India's most celebrated athletes started with this crucial decision. So, why did she choose badminton over volleyball?
To understand this, we need to go back to her early years. Sindhu was born on July 5, 1995, in Hyderabad, India, to PV Ramana and P Vijaya, both professional volleyball players. With her parents being volleyball players, it seemed natural that Sindhu would follow in their footsteps. In fact, her sister, Divya, chose volleyball, and the sisters often played together in their younger years. However, Sindhu had a natural affinity for racquet sports and was drawn to badminton from a young age.
The influence of her parents' athletic careers played a significant role in her choice. Growing up in a sports-oriented family, she was exposed to the benefits and opportunities that a career in sports could offer. Her parents, recognizing her interest and potential in badminton, encouraged her to pursue the sport. Their support and guidance were instrumental in her decision to focus on badminton. With their own experience in professional sports, they understood the dedication and hard work required, and instilled these values in Sindhu from a young age.
Additionally, the infrastructure and support for badminton in her home state of Telangana provided a conducive environment for her to thrive. The Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy, founded by former Indian badminton player Pullela Gopichand, was established in Hyderabad, offering world-class training facilities and coaching. This accessibility to top-notch resources and the opportunity to train under renowned coaches influenced Sindhu's decision to pursue badminton seriously. The presence of a strong badminton culture in the state, with several other successful players emerging from the same academy, further reinforced her choice.
Sindhu's natural talent for badminton was evident from her early successes in local and state-level competitions. She started playing badminton at the age of eight and quickly rose through the ranks, winning several titles in the under-10 and under-12 categories. Her impressive performances caught the eye of Gopichand, who took her under his wing and began mentoring her at his academy. Under his guidance, Sindhu's game flourished, and she went on to win several youth and junior titles, solidifying her decision to pursue badminton as her career.
While volleyball may have been the more familiar path, Sindhu's passion for badminton, coupled with the support from her family and the favorable circumstances, steered her towards badminton. Her choice to embrace badminton over volleyball has not only shaped her own career but has also inspired a generation of Indian athletes, showcasing the power of following one's passion and the importance of familial backing in pursuing sporting dreams.
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International debut and early success
PV Sindhu's international debut came at the 2009 Asian Sub-Junior Badminton Championships in Colombo, where the 14-year-old won a bronze medal. She went on to win a silver medal in the women's singles at the 2010 Iran Fajr International Badminton Challenge. The following year, she won gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games, beating Soniia Cheah Su Ya of Malaysia in straight games. She also won the Maldives International Challenge and Indonesia International Challenge in 2011.
In 2012, Sindhu broke into the top 20 of the BWF World Ranking at the age of 17. She also made her All England Championships debut that year, losing to Tza Tu-Ting in the first round. She then reached the final of the Senior National Badminton Championships, where she lost to three-time champion Saina Nehwal.
In 2013, Sindhu became the first Indian women's singles player to win a medal at the Badminton World Championships, claiming bronze. She also won her first Grand Prix Gold title at the Malaysian Open that year.
At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Sindhu became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic silver medal in badminton. She also became the youngest Indian to achieve a podium finish in an individual event at the Olympics.
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Olympic glory and accolades
PV Sindhu's Olympic glory began at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, where she became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic silver medal in badminton. This win also made her the youngest Indian to take a podium finish in an individual event at the Olympics. Following her Olympic success, she won the title at the China Open, beating China's Sun Yu.
In 2020, Sindhu made her second consecutive Olympic appearance in Tokyo, where she won a bronze medal. This made her the first-ever Indian woman to win two Olympic medals and the first female Indian athlete to lift two individual Olympic medals. Her natural style of play was too much for He Bing Jiao, and she triumphed with a score of 21-15, 21-13 in just 53 minutes.
Sindhu's Olympic glory has brought her numerous accolades and recognition. She received India's second-highest sporting honour, the Arjuna Award, in 2013, and the Padma Shri award, the country's fourth-highest civilian honour, in 2015. Following her Olympic performance, she was awarded India's highest sporting honour, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna. Sindhu was also named the BBC Sportswoman of the Year in 2019. Her success has made her one of the most celebrated Indian sports personalities today, and she has appeared on Forbes' list of Highest-Paid Female Athletes multiple times.
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World Championships and other achievements
P. V. Sindhu, or Pusarla Venkata Sindhu, is an Indian badminton player who is considered one of India's most successful athletes. She is the first Indian to become a badminton world champion and the only Indian to win two consecutive medals at the Olympic Games.
Sindhu entered the international badminton circuit at the young age of 14 in 2009, winning a bronze medal at the Sub-Junior Asian Badminton Championships in Colombo. The following year, she won a silver medal in the women's singles at the Iran Fajr International Badminton Challenge. She also reached the quarter-finals of the BWF World Junior Championships in Mexico, losing to Chinese player Suo Di. In 2011, she won the Maldives International Challenge and the Indonesia International Challenge. She then went on to win the Commonwealth Youth Games, beating Soniia Cheah Su Ya of Malaysia in straight games.
In 2012, Sindhu broke into the top 20 of the BWF World Rankings at the age of 17. The same year, she became India's first-ever Asian Junior Champion, defeating Japan's Nozomi Okuhara. She also reached the semi-finals of the China Masters Superseries tournament, beating the London 2012 Olympics gold medalist Li Xuerui.
At the 2013 Indian Badminton League, Sindhu captained the team Awadhe Warriors, leading them to the semi-finals where they beat the Mumbai Marathas. In 2013, she also became the first Indian woman in the singles category to win a medal at the Badminton World Championship.
Sindhu achieved a career-high ranking of number 2 in April 2017. At the 2017 BWF World Championships, she won a silver medal after a close match against Nozomi Okuhara. This was the second-longest women's singles match in badminton history, lasting 110 minutes.
At the 2019 World Championships, Sindhu was seeded fifth. She defeated Pai Yu-po and Beiwen Zhang in straight games, and then beat second seed Tai Tzu-ying in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, she defeated Chen Yufei in straight games to enter her third consecutive World Championships final. Sindhu won the gold medal by defeating Nozomi Okuhara, becoming the first Indian to win gold at the World Championships.
Sindhu has won a total of five medals at the BWF World Championships, including one gold, two silver, and two bronze medals. She has also won medals at the Olympic Games, with a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and a bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, making her the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals.
In addition to her World Championship and Olympic achievements, Sindhu has won numerous other titles, including the Syed Modi International and the India Open Superseries. She has also been recognised with several awards, including the Arjuna Award in 2013, the Padma Shri in 2015, and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2016.
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Frequently asked questions
PV Sindhu was inspired by the success of Pullela Gopichand, the 2001 All England Open Badminton Champion. She chose badminton over volleyball at the young age of eight.
PV Sindhu started playing badminton at a young age and won trophies as a child. She made her senior debut in 2009 and has been in the public eye ever since due to huge media interest.
PV Sindhu broke into the top 20 of the BWF World Ranking in 2012 at the age of 17. In 2013, she became the first Indian woman to win a medal at the Badminton World Championships. She then went on to become the first Indian woman to win an Olympic silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She has since won many Super Series and Grand Prix events and is a highly decorated athlete.
Yes, PV Sindhu's parents were both national-level volleyball players, and her father was a member of the Indian volleyball team that won bronze at the 1986 Seoul Asian Games. Her sister, PV Divya, was also a national-level handball player.
PV Sindhu has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Business Administration from St. Ann's College for Women in Hyderabad. She also has an honorary doctorate from Chennai Vels University. PV Sindhu prioritised her education and ensured it did not suffer due to her sports career. She has stated that she managed her studies and badminton training with discipline and commitment.
