'Shining symbol of my dedication...'- PV Sindhu on life-changing silver medal win at Rio Olympics

The ace Indian shuttler also clinched a bronze medal four years later in Tokyo.

Seven years have passed since PV Sindhu touched her dream to win a medal at the Olympics. Sindhu won silver medal on August 20, 2016, at the Rio Olympics after a thrilling final run against Spain's Carolina Marin. The then nervous 21-year-old medalist today stands as the most prominent name in the world of Badminton. In these years she graced her path with numerous achievements in BWF World Championships, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and so on.

On the seventh anniversary of her silver medal win at the Rio Olympics, PV Sindhu took on to ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter) to cherish one of her life’s favourite moments. The date was 20th August 2016 in Rio when she first got the chance to stand on the podium of the prestigious Olympics games. 

“Seven years ago, I embarked on a journey that would forever change my life. Looking back, it's hard to believe that it's been seven long years since that momentous day when I proudly won my first Olympic medal in Rio. It was a Silver, a shining symbol of my dedication, hard work, and the unwavering support of my coaches, teammates, and fans," she mentioned in her post.

After a confident first set win by 19-21, Sindhu fell short by 12-21 and 15-21 against Carolina Marin. The world of Badminton has witnessed some fierce rivalry between the two shuttlers in the subsequent years following the women's singles final in Rio, 2016.

“One of the most remarkable chapters of this journey has been the intense rivalry on the court, especially the battles against Carolina. The journey to the final was a testament to the grit and determination that both of us brought to the game. The 3-set marathon final was nothing short of extraordinary, a display of skill, perseverance, and sportsmanship,” she wrote.

Sindhu continued her impressive streak at the World Championships, clinching two silver medals in 2017 and 2018, followed by a memorable gold in 2019. Her accomplishments continued to extend, with a silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games, a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, and a gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Her impressive medal run was a dream run toward excellence. She wrote “Today, as I stand at this juncture, I'm not just celebrating the medals and the wins. I'm celebrating the spirit of resilience, the pursuit of excellence, and the courage to chase dreams. Here's to the seven years that have been a mix of highs and lows, challenges and victories, but above all, a testament to the power of perseverance!!!”

With one of the most decorated careers, PV Sindhu is all set for the upcoming BWF World Championships 2023 in Copenhagen, Denmark as she gears up for the Asian Games.  She will look to better her performance as the 2024 Paris Olympics comes close.