New Delhi: India’s first badminton World Champion PV Sindhu was welcomed exuberantly on her return to the country and promised to work harder to clinch more medals in upcoming tournaments.
The 2016 Olympic silver medallist, who outplayed Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara 21-7, 21-7 in a lop-sided final Sunday of the World Championships at Basel in Switzerland, was mobbed at the airport here after she touched down with national coach Pullela Gopichand by her side Monday night here.
Despite the hectic schedule PV Sindhu she has endured, the 24-year-old had a smile on her face as she acknowledged supporters and the media at the airport.
“I am really happy, I am very proud of my country. It’s a much-awaited win and I am very happy about it,” Sindhu said in response to questions that were thrown at her almost at the same time.
The Hyderabadi has had little time to reflect since her historic triumph. She had a breakfast meeting with Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the day.
“I will work more hard and win many more medals,” PV Sindhu said on questions about the plans from now given that the Tokyo Olympics is less than a year away.
Sindhu was also asked about the moment she got emotional after the medal distribution ceremony. The five-time World Championships medallist had tears in her eyes when the national anthem played. She had claimed silvers in the past two editions, besides a couple of bronze medals earlier.
“I had tears and there were a lot of emotions, it was a great moment for me. Thanks to all my fans for your blessings, your blessings have brought me here,” Sindhu stated.
“I would like to thank my coaches Gopi sir and Kim (Ji Hyun). They have put in a lot of effort and done a few changes in my game,” Sindhu informed.
Kim Ji Hyun, a former international from South Korea, joined the coaching staff earlier this year on Pullela Gopichand’s recommendations.
PTI