This will be PV Sindhu's third appearance in Olympics
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PV Sindhu has undoubtedly secured her slot for the upcoming Paris Olympics. India’s premier female badminton player made an impressive return to the court at the French Open after recovering from an injury, advancing to the quarterfinals. Additionally, she made it to the second round at the highly regarded All England Open but was defeated by the top-ranked An Seyoung with scores of 19-21, and 11-21.
At the start of the first game, Sindhu effectively used the court to grab an early 4-1 lead. But An Se Young didn’t take long to catch up, tying the score at 4-4 and then zooming ahead to 11-8 by the break. The player from Korea skillfully countered Sindhu’s powerful style with clever blocking and sharp shot placement to go up 17-11. Sindhu fought back with some strong smashes, closing in at 20-19, only one point behind.
However, An Se Young held on to finish the game on top. The French Open and All England Open, classified as Super 750 and Super 1000 tournaments respectively, are among the most significant competitions listed on the BWF (Badminton World Federation) schedule, with a considerable number of ranking points for grabs. Sindhu’s performances at these events have garnered her enough points to confirm her participation in the Paris Olympics.
The confirmation is through a mathematical standpoint. To qualify for the Paris Olympics in badminton, an athlete must be among the top 16 in the rankings by April 28, 2024. Sindhu is currently ranked 11th, and she’s set to be the sole representative from India in the women’s singles category at the Games, as the next Indian contender, Aakarshi Kashyap, stands at rank 43.
A two-time Olympic medal winner, PV Sindhu captured her first silver in Rio, later claiming bronze in Tokyo. She lost the Rio final to Spain’s Carolina Marin but emerged victorious for the bronze in Tokyo against He Bingjiao from China after a defeat in the semifinals by Tai Tzu-Ying from Chinese Taipei. This feat marked Sindhu as the inaugural Indian badminton player to earn Olympic medals twice.
She is the second Indian following Saina Nehwal’s accomplishment in 2012. Heading into the Paris Olympics in July-August later this year, Sindhu aims to build on her exceptional track record from Rio and Tokyo and go for gold. In addition to Sindhu, India’s men’s doubles team, Satwisairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty—who are at the pinnacle of their category.
Moreover HS Prannoy, the leading male singles player ranked seventh, have also confirmed their participation in the Paris Olympics. While it will be Sindhu’s third Olympiad, Rankireddy, Shetty, and Prannoy will experience their interaction with the grand event for the first time.
Badminton star PV Sindhu from India made history at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics by securing a bronze medal in the women’s singles event. With this victory, Sindhu stands as the first Indian woman to earn two Olympic medals. Following her silver medal in Rio 2016, the anticipation around the 26-year-old athlete intensified, with many eager to see her performance at the next Olympics in Tokyo. Sindhu’s success in the 2019 World Championship showcased her prowess in sports.
This indicates that she is not content with coming in second place in major competitions. Although Sindhu faced a tough match against Tai Tzu-Ying from Chinese Taipei, preventing her from competing for the gold, her tenacity and determination enabled her to overcome the setback. She bounced back with vigor, securing another Olympic medal for her collection.
As Sindhu landed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport clutching her bronze medal, she was met with cheers and the beat of drums. Smiling widely, she soaked in the warm welcome from adoring fans. With many Indian athletes shining at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Sindhu’s journey from Japan is just one of the many inspiring stories emerging. However, her dual Olympic medals set her apart and hint that she might achieve even more in the future.
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