New Delhi: The badminton fraternity lauded P V Sindhu's performance after she created history by becoming the first Indian women's singles player to reach the semi-finals of the World Championships in Guangzhou Friday.
The 18-year-old defeated China's former World No.1 Shixian Wang 21-18, 21-17 in 55 minutes to assure India of at least bronze medal in the competition. Ten-time former national champion Aparna Popat said that Sindhu can also go on to win the gold.
"After Jwala and Ashwini's medal in 2011, this is an excellent performance by an Indian. Sindhu is just two matches away from turning the bronze in to gold and she is quite capable of doing it," said Aparna.
Sindhu's peer H.S. Prannoy, World No.46 in men's singles, echoed similar sentiments. "It was a good win. The hard work is giving good results. This is really great for Indian badminton. The results are showing from the last couple of years but we were lacking behind in major tournaments. This medal is a huge step forward. All credit to her," Prannoy told IANS from Hyderabad, where he trains with Sindhu at the Gopichand Badminton Academy.
Doubles shuttler K.T. Rupesh Kumar said that this victory will boost the confidence of the upcoming shuttlers. "Sindhu has been outstanding. This will boost the confidence of all the youngsters in the country and of course will do a great deal for the development of badminton in India," Rupesh told IANS.
This will be only the third instance when an Indian will bring home a medal from the Worlds. Prakash Padukone won the men's singles bronze in 1983 at Copenhagen while Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa won another bronze in women's doubles in the last edition at London in 2011.
The Badminton Association of India also congratulated P.V. Sindhu for becoming the first women's singles player from the country to reach the semi-finals of the World Championships
"I congratulate Sindhu on reaching the semifinals and ensuring a medal. But she has the capability to go all the way in the tournament and I wish her all the luck in her endeavour," BAI president Akhilesh Das Gupta said.
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