HOLDING COURT

Covergirl and Olympian P.V. Sindhu inspires with her determined spirit, in an exclusive conversation about winning at the Olympics, her childhood memories, playing badminton with Deepika Padukone, and more...

- NANDINI BHALLA

IN IT TO WIN IT

Badminton champion P.V. Sindhu shares her determination to succeed, fresh on the heels of her victory at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

What does it take to become a world champion? Ask ace badminton player and our covergirl P.V. Sindhu, who made history this August at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as the second individual athlete from India to have won two consecutive medals at the Games. Sindhu is also a recipient of the Padma Bhushan award, a former member of the Forbes list of highest-paid female athletes, and the first Indian to win the title of Badminton World Champion. To put things in perspective, Sindhu is all of 26-years-old.

“It is very important to be dedicated. Some might think that if you play for a couple of months, you will become a champion,” Sindhu tells me after we wrap up the Bazaar India shoot, held in a badminton court in Hyderabad. “I believe that all the sacrifices are worth it: you should not look back and regret anything in life.”

“It was amazing winning the bronze and standing on the podium...it’s a different feeling winning a medal back-to-back, especially at the Olympics.”

Being the daughter of national-level volleyball players P.V. Ramana and P. Vijaya, Sindhu’s childhood, she says, was ripe for devoting herself to the game. Here is a figure of commitment and passion, one who sets high goals for herself and works towards achieving them. But I am curious to know what Sindhu is like when it’s time to leave the court. “Off court, I’m a regular girl. I enjoy getting dressed up and shopping... I really enjoy travelling, and I’m very jovial so I make friends easily, which is really nice...”