World C’ships Bronze to Olympic Silver: PV Sindhu’s Biggest Wins

The Sports Ministry recommended star shuttler PV Sindhu for Padma Bhushan on Monday.

Sindhu recently became the first Indian to win the Korea Open Super Series title after defeating Nozomi Okuhara in Seoul on Sunday, 17 September.

The shuttler, who clinched the India Open earlier this year, dashed Okuhara's bid to win her third straight title after the Australian Open and the World Championships.

Also Read: Korea Open Final: PV Sindhu Defeats Okuhara in ‘Revenge Match’

Here’s a look at some of PV Sindhu’s big wins.

First Indian to win a women’s singles medal at the World Championships

The Indian shuttler, who was just 18 years old at that time, defeated former World Number 1 Shixian Wang of China 21-18, 21-17 in the quarter-finals in Guangzhou.

First Indian to win back-to-back World Championships medals

Sindhu’s rise continued in the next year. The shuttler defeated Shixian Wang yet again in the quarter-finals, with the scoreline reading 19-21, 21-19, 21-15, in Copenhagen.

Historic Silver at the Rio Olympics

Sindhu’s career went up to a whole new level when she won silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics, thereby becoming first Indian woman to win a silver medal at the Olympics. Sindhu played an epic final against Carolina Marin before settling for a silver.

Sindhu defeated Nozomi Okuhara 21-19, 21-10 in the semi-finals.

Maiden Super Series Premier title

Three months later, Sindhu clinched her maiden Super Series Premier title at the China Open in Fuzhou. The shuttler edged out local favourite Sun Yu 21-11, 17-21, 21-11 in the final.

Made the World Championships Final

After bronze medals in 2013 and 2014 at the World Championships, Sindhu went a step ahead in 2017, by reaching the final. Sindhu played one of the best-ever badminton matches in the final against Nozomi Okuhara. The Indian went down 19-21, 22-20, 20-22 in 1 hour and 49 minutes.

PV Sindhu defeated Chen Yufei 21-13, 21-10 in the semi-final of the World Championships in Glasgow.

(This article has been republished from The Quint’s archives on the occasion of PV Sindhu being recommended for Padma Bhushan by the Sports Ministry. This story was originally published on 17 September.)

Also Read: ‘PV Sindhu Is a Legend’: Sehwag, Bachchan Celebrate Korea Open Win

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