POPxo Power Women List 2022: PV Sindhu, The Champion Breaking Barriers, One Olympic Medal At A Time

An Iconic Sports Star With An Unstoppable Force

Pusarla Venkata Sindhu or PV Sindhu is only 26 but she has become the sports world’s brightest young star. In 2016, Sindhu became the first Indian woman to win a silver medal at the Rio Olympics. After achieving this extraordinary feat, Sindhu didn’t rest on her laurels. She went from strength to strength and gave India another glorious win. The reigning badminton world champion has had a glowing career so far. Sindhu’s 2020 Olympic win may have been the highlight of her career, but she has achieved several accolades that contribute to her sporting stardom.

In 2012, when Sindhu was merely 17 years old, she made it to the top 20 BWF (Badminton World Federation) rankings–a feat few players have accomplished. Sindhu was graced with India’s 3rd highest civilian honour, the Padma Bhushan award in 2021. Today, Sindhu is more than an Olympic medalist—she is a beacon of inspiration for women in sports. The remarkable player plans to train and further the next generation of Badminton champions. Sindhu is currently in the process of setting up an academy in Visakhapatnam to train underprivileged children in the sport.

Power Move

The postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was disappointing for most athletes. However, Sindhu took it in her stride. She used the extra year to train harder and refine her skills. While her 2016 win put insurmountable pressure on her, she chose to focus on giving the sport her 100%. The result? Sindhu created history by becoming the first Indian woman athlete to win two medals at the Olympics. With her monumental achievements and infectious energy, we’re certain this iconic sports star will continue to create historic feats.

The POPxo Power Women List is an annual list that celebrates incredible Indian women from diverse domains who make power moves that have a real impact. With The POPxo Power Women List 2022, we celebrate 22 phenomenal women. To see the entire list, click here.