P.V. Sindhu on Sunday became the first Indian to win the badminton World Championships by beating familiar rival Nozomi Okuhara of Japan in a lop-sided final in Basel on Sunday. The Olympic silver-medallist Indian was in total control as she won 21-7, 21-7 in a match that lasted just 38 minutes.
Two years ago, Sindhu was robbed off the gold by Okuhara in an epic 110-minute final at Glasgow that is considered one of the greatest battles in badminton history. The Indian exorcised the ghosts of that heart-wrenching loss with a completely dominating win over the same opponent.
“Last time, I lost in the final, before that also I lost in the final, so it is a very important win for me. I want to thank the crowd for supporting me. I won it for my country and I am very proud being an Indian,” Sindhu said after the match.
With her fifth medal of the World Championships, Sindhu is now the joint highest medal winner in women’s singles in World Championships history, along with former Olympic champion Zhang Ning of China who won an identical set of 1 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals between 2001 and 2007.
“A big thanks to my coach Kim and Gopi sir and my supporting staff and I dedicate this win to my mom, it’s her birthday today,” she added.
It was third time lucky for Sindhu who had lost to Okuhara and Carolina Marin, respectively, in the 2017 and 2018 finals to settle for silver twice. She had won bronze medals in the 2013 and 2014 editions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday, congratulated PV Sindhu after she became the first Indian to win a gold medal at the BWF World Championships in Basel, Switzerland.
The stupendously talented @Pvsindhu1 makes India proud again!
Congratulations to her for winning the Gold at the BWF World Championships. The passion and dedication with which she’s pursued badminton is inspiring.
PV Sindhu’s success will inspire generations of players.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 25, 2019
Modi said in a tweet that the “stupendously talented” Sindhu’s success will “inspire generations of players.”
“The stupendously talented @Pvsindhu1 makes India proud again! Congratulations to her for winning the Gold at the BWF World Championships. The passion and dedication with which she’s pursued badminton is inspiring. PV Sindhu’s success will inspire generations of players,” Modi tweeted.
