PV Sindhu

Pusarla Venkata Sindhu (born 5 July 1995) is an Indian badminton player and one of the most decorated athletes in Indian sports history. She is the first Indian badminton player to win two Olympic medals — a silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics and a bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She has also won the BWF World Championships title in 2019, becoming the first Indian to do so. Born in Hyderabad, Telangana, Sindhu comes from a family of athletes — her father P.V. Ramana was a volleyball player who represented India and won a bronze medal at the 1986 Asian Games. She trained at the Gopichand Badminton Academy under the same coach as Saina Nehwal, Pullela Gopichand. Sindhu's breakthrough came when she reached the final of the 2016 Rio Olympics, becoming the first Indian to reach a badminton Olympic final. Though she lost to Carolina Marin of Spain in the final, her silver medal was a historic achievement. She followed this with a gold medal at the 2019 BWF World Championships in Basel, Switzerland — a first for any Indian badminton player. Her second Olympic medal came at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021) where she won bronze in women's singles. With two Olympic medals, Sindhu became one of the most successful Indian athletes in Olympic history. She has also won gold at the Asian Games (2018, team event), multiple BWF World Tour titles, and has been ranked as high as World No. 2. Beyond badminton, Sindhu is a role model for Indian women in sports. She has been a brand ambassador for numerous brands and has inspired millions of young girls to take up sports. Her discipline, work ethic, and ability to perform under pressure have made her one of India's most respected athletes.