Pusarla Venkata Sindhu secured her position in sporting history by becoming the first Indian badminton player to reach an Olympic final at the 2016 Rio Games. Born in 1995 in Hyderabad, she has since solidified her status as one of the most successful athletes in India, claiming medals at the World Championships, Commonwealth Games, and two consecutive Olympic tournaments.
Early Development and Training
Born to parents who were national-level volleyball players, Sindhu shifted her focus to badminton after observing the achievements of Pullela Gopichand. She began training at age eight, initially learning under Mehboob Ali at the Indian Railway Institute of Signal Engineering and Telecommunications in Secunderabad. She eventually joined the Gopichand Badminton Academy. Her professional discipline was marked by a daily 56 km commute to attend coaching camps.
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Entering the international circuit at 14, Sindhu quickly moved through the ranks, winning the Asian Junior Championships in 2012 by defeating Nozomi Okuhara. By September 2012, at age 17, she had broken into the top 20 of the BWF World Rankings. Her trajectory continued with significant victories, including the 2016 China Open and the 2018 BWF World Tour Finals, where she remains the only Indian player to capture a season finale title.
Olympic and Global Achievements
Sindhu’s career is defined by her performance on the world stage. After her silver medal in Rio de Janeiro, she claimed bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, becoming the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals. Her record at the BWF World Championships includes five medals, making her the second woman globally to reach this milestone. She also holds titles as a Commonwealth Games champion.
Professional and Civilian Roles
Beyond the court, Sindhu has held various professional responsibilities. She joined Bharat Petroleum in 2013 as an Assistant Manager (Sports), later being promoted to Deputy Sports Manager following her 2016 Olympic success. In 2017, she was appointed as a Deputy Collector by the Andhra Pradesh government. She has received numerous national honours, including the Padma Shri in 2015, the Arjuna Award in 2013, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in 2016, and the Padma Bhushan in 2020.
Fast facts
- Born: 1995, Hyderabad
- Citizenship: India
- Olympic Medals: Silver (2016), Bronze (2020)
- Highest BWF World Ranking: No. 2 (April 2017)
- Languages: Hindi, English, Telugu
- Spouse: Venkata Datta Sai (m. 2024)
- Education: Auxilium High School and St. Ann's College for Women, Hyderabad
Questions readers ask
What major sports awards has Sindhu received in India?
She has received the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, and the Arjuna Award.
Was she the first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal?
No, she became the first Indian badminton player to reach an Olympic final in 2016, where she won a silver medal.
Achievements
- world champion
- Commonwealth Games champion
- national champion
- Olympic silver medal
- Olympic bronze medal
- Competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics
- Competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics
- Competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics
- 2018 Badminton World Championships – women's singles
- 2017 Badminton World Championships – women's singles