Harpal Singh Bedi / New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar led the Indian sporting fraternity in hailing P.V. Sindhu’s historic title win at the Badminton World Championship at Basel , Switzerland, on Sunday, saying she has made India proud.
Sindhu , finally broke the jinx of losing in the finals, as she trounced Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara 21-7 21-7 in a one-sided summit clash her and India’s maiden gold in the World Championships.
“The stupendously talented P V Sindhu makes India proud again!” Prime Minister Modi tweeted.He also said that the passion and dedication with which Sindhu pursue badminton is inspiring, adding, that her success will be an inspiration to the generation of players.
“Amazing performance! Congratulations on becoming the 1st ever to win the BWF World Championships! You have made India proud, yet again,” tweeted Tendulkar.
Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju said the country was proud of Sindhu for her unprecedented achievement. “PV Sindhu creates history by becoming the first-ever Indian to claim gold in BWF World Badminton Championships! India is proud of @Pvsindhu1. My hearty congratulations! Govt will continue to provide best support & facilities to produce champions,” the minister tweeted.
Sindhu’s fellow competitor and Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal also tweeted: “Congratulations to @Pvsindhu1 for the first ever world championships gold medal from India.”
Another Hyderbadi tennis star Sania Mirza lauded Sindhu’s achievement.”What a champion you are girl @Pvsindhu1 congratulations.. enjoy the moment,” she said.
“Congrats@Pvsindhu1 on winning Gold medal at #BWFWorldChampionships2019 Great exhibition of skill, fitness and mental strength to defeat Japan’s Okuhara in such an emphatic fashion. Proud of you,” wrote former India batsman and fellow Hyderabadi VVS Laxman. Former test spinner Harbhajan Singh wrote: “Congratulations PV Sindhu 1st indian to win Gold @Pvsindhu1 keep inspiring.”
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also congratulated the shuttler saying: “You make every Indian proud. Keep winning”.
It was Sindhu’s fifth World Championships medal — joint-most for a woman singles player with former Olympics and world champion Zhang Ning of China — to go with the two successive silvers and a couple of bronze medals.
She had finished runners up in 2016 Rio Olympic Games, bagged a silver at Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, an Asian Games silver at Jakarta and the BWF World Tour Finals last year.