Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met badminton star PV Sindhu, lauding her remarkable contributions to Indian sports and congratulating her on her illustrious career. The meeting, held on Thursday, was also attended by Sindhu’s husband, Venkata Datta Sai, as per the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). During the interaction, Sarma praised Sindhu’s relentless dedication and perseverance, which have earned her a place among the greatest badminton players in the world. He highlighted her role in inspiring young athletes across the country, particularly in Assam, where badminton has seen a surge in popularity in recent years.
PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medalist, expressed her gratitude for the warm reception and acknowledged Assam’s unwavering support for sports and athletes. She thanked the state for encouraging young talent and promoting badminton at the grassroots level. Currently ranked 12th in the world, Sindhu has been a dominant force in international badminton. Earlier this year, she ended a two-year title drought by clinching the Syed Modi India International, a BWF Super 300 event in Lucknow. However, she recently faced an early exit at the Indonesia Masters, losing in the opening round to Vietnam’s Nguyen Thuy Linh in straight games.
Sindhu’s illustrious career includes five BWF World Championship medals, a record that places her among the greatest female shuttlers in history. She made headlines at the 2016 Rio Olympics by becoming the first Indian badminton player to reach an Olympic final, securing a silver medal. She continued her historic run at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, clinching a bronze and becoming the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals.