P.V. Sindhu, Sportsperson Of The Year
Sports Illustrated India|July 2017

A Dream Run at the 2016 Olympics was followed by major successes on the International tour, making Sindhu the unanimous choice for the sportsperson of the Year award

Priyanka Sharma
P.V. Sindhu, Sportsperson Of The Year

Barely a month before Saina Nehwal’s bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics sent the entire nation into raptures, a 17-year-old shuttler created ripples on the junior international circuit. Pusarla Venkata Sindhu, a shy 5'11'' teenager from Hyderabad, won the Badminton Asia Youth Under-19 Championships title—it was India’s first junior Asian Championships title since Gautam Thakkar’s victory in 1965.

Four years later, at the Rio Olympics, she did it again. This time her achievement changed her life, and the country’s badminton landscape. Indian badminton scaled dizzying heights when Sindhu gifted the sport its brightest medal ever—an Olympic silver. A more mature player since her Asian success, she went down fighting to reigning world No. 1 Carolina Marin 21–19, 12–21, 15–21 yet the loss in the final brought plenty of cheer to 1.3 billion people, who till then had just one bronze to celebrate at the world’s biggest sporting extravaganza.

The medal also served as inspiration to Indian women athletes aspiring to strike it big in their careers. The biggest impact of Sindhu’s Olympics performance was that it changed the nation’s perspective towards women in sport. She earned plenty of awards and accolades for her achievement (cash awards of approximately ₹13.5 crore, besides land grants, job offers and a lengthy list of sponsors).

Similarly, wrestler Sakshi Malik, who won bronze in the women’s freestyle 58kg, yet another first in the sport for India, too was feted and applauded. And who can forget the brave heart performance of Dipa Karmakar, who single handedly took gymnastics into the living rooms of millions. But it was Sindhu’s performance that undoubtedly remains the crowning glory of India’s women athletes in the 2016 Olympics.

Bu hikaye Sports Illustrated India dergisinin July 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye Sports Illustrated India dergisinin July 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED INDIA DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
Hockey World Cup- India Gears Up For Glory
Sports Illustrated India

Hockey World Cup- India Gears Up For Glory

Hosts India will have to play out of their skins to win their second Hockey Men’s World Cup title.

time-read
10 dak  |
December 2018
The Drive For Consistency
Sports Illustrated India

The Drive For Consistency

Find something you love doing and use that to fall in love with your body, so you can embrace change and sustain a pattern that lets you unlock the best version of yourself

time-read
3 dak  |
May 2018
The Phenomenon
Sports Illustrated India

The Phenomenon

Kevin Pietersen may have retired from playing, but he will remain a part of the game and Test cricket folklore for a long time

time-read
4 dak  |
May 2018
Powering The Action
Sports Illustrated India

Powering The Action

The IPL is intense. Players let off the fireworks on the pitch, but it is the coaches and support staff that light the fuses. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED traces the evolution of this critical aspect of the game, and why Indians still need to make a mark

time-read
9 dak  |
May 2018
A Steep Learning Curve
Sports Illustrated India

A Steep Learning Curve

Making the transition from the junior level to the senior team has been quite challenging but a hugely rewarding experience.

time-read
4 dak  |
August 2016
Scorecard - Don't Blame It on Rio
Sports Illustrated India

Scorecard - Don't Blame It on Rio

Apathy towards the Olympics could cast golf in a negative light and jeo paradise its standing with the IOC for the 2024 Games and beyond.

time-read
5 dak  |
June - July 2016
Bench Strength
Sports Illustrated India

Bench Strength

With the Likes of Nair, Yadav, Jadhav and Chahal Performing With Maturity Over the Past Year, Team India’s Bench Strength Looks Strong Ahead of the Champions Trophy.

time-read
9 dak  |
March 2017
Sir Roger Bannister (1929-2018)
Sports Illustrated India

Sir Roger Bannister (1929-2018)

A legend in his own time, Sir Roger was most proud of his neurology research but his historic sub-four mile run in 1954 is still regarded as one of his best breakthroughs

time-read
2 dak  |
April 2018
Battle Ready
Sports Illustrated India

Battle Ready

A star-studded Indian contingent seeks to reshape its approach with rising talent, even as seasoned warriors in badminton, weight-lifting, shooting and wrestling aim for gold

time-read
9 dak  |
April 2018
Safe Passage
Sports Illustrated India

Safe Passage

The Dustup That Marred the Return of Chris Paul to L.a. Has Faded. As the Point God Settles Into a New Home, He Has a New Running Buddy and a Group of Teammates Who Feel Like a Family

time-read
10+ dak  |
April 2018