PV Sindhu brought India its second medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics 2020 after defeating He Bing Jiao of China 21-13, 21-15 in 53 minutes, in their bronze medal match. This is also her second consecutive Olympic medal, adding to her historic silver at 2016 Rio Games, becoming the first Indian woman to do so.

The 18th point of the second game summed up the day for both Sindhu and Jiao. The Hyderabad shuttler followed a great defensive shot with a thumping smash down the line. She was by far the better player against her Chinese opponent, who came in to this match after an exhausting three-game semi-final.

The entire gamut of Sindhu’s variety was on display during her bronze medal win — from cross-court smashes to net play and even delicate drop shots. Sindhu finished the first game 21-13 in 23 minutes and it took her another half an hour to seal another medal for her country.

Wishes poured in from all quarters for the 5’11” player, led by the President of India Ramnath Kovid.

 

 

 

 

 

Besides her two pieces of Olympic metal, Sindhu is also the current world champion, a five-time world championship medalist, two-time Asian Games podium finisher and three-time Commonwealth Games medalist. Former Indian hockey player Viren Rasquinha even called her the best-ever Indian athlete of all-time after her recent heroics.

Hers was officially Team India’s second medal at the Tokyo Games, after Mirabai Chanu’s silver in the 49kg weightlifting event. The contingent is also guaranteed another medal following Lovlina Borgohain’s win in the welterweight boxing quarter finals.

At the time of writing this article, the Indian men’s hockey team was also leading Great Britain in their quarter final match. It might prove to be another avenue for an Olympic medal this year for the country. Watch this space for more.

Image credits: Twitter/ We Are Team India