India’s top-ranked badminton player P. V. Sindhu won the prestigious Sportstar of the Year award at the Sportstar Aces Awards on Monday.
Earlier in the evening, she also took home the Sportswoman of the year in racquet sports.
"I would like to thank Sportstar for giving me these awards. I'm unable to personally collect the awards as I'm busy with the Indonesian Open. I'm extremely honoured to be named the Sportstar of the year and the best sportswoman in racquet sports. Finally, I would like to congratulate all the athletes who bagged awards," said Sindhu after being named 2019's sportstar of the year.
In the last year, Sindhu claimed the biggest title in the game at the 2019 World Championships.
The quality of her play at the Championships made the badminton world take note of her previously unseen capabilities. At the BWF finals, Sindhu scored important victories over former world No. 1 Akane Yamaguchi and two former world champions, Ratchanok Intanon and Nozomi Okuhara, in straight games.
Sindhu speaks
When I look back at 2019, the World Championship gold will remain the greatest moment for me. The long wait has finally ended. I couldn’t have asked for a better performance than winning the world title. Yes, I didn’t have the kind of run I should have had after the World Championship title. But it doesn’t certainly mean the end of it all. I can always come back stronger.
It was a different year for sure and there were comparisons whether the 2016 Rio Olympics silver was better than the 2019 World championship gold. But, personally, I believe not many expected me to win a silver in Rio, but by last year there was more recognition, lots of expectations and, of course, bigger responsibility. Maybe I think being unpredictable is my strength too, for on a given day, I can beat anyone.
I am keen on having a great 2020 with the focus also shifting to All England Championships, which is one Super Series title I have not won yet. Well, every championship has its own aura and every player who competes will have one solitary goal — to win. And I am no different.
I always take pride in giving special performances in majors like the worlds and Olympics. I wish to have great run in the future, too. Well, it is always important to know your mistakes and work on them and I must say a lot of emphasis now will be on being more patient in my approach.
The Sportstar award is something I cherish. Sportstar has been always so supportive to every athlete — from a budding talent to a champion performer. It is always a source of encouragement and inspiration.
Winning the Sportswoman of the Year (Racquet Sports) Award and being adjudged Sportstar of the Year is something any athlete should be proud of.
These awards also mean as lot as I target to being world No. 1, win the All England championship and the Olympic gold.
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Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, chess ace Vishwanathan Anand, The Hindu Publishing Group chairman N. Ram, former India hockey captain M. M. Somaya, Olympian shooter Anjali Bhagwat and Olympian shuttler Aparna Popat selected the deserving winners in categories involving young athletes, teams, coaches and parathletes.
The awards look to create a medium of knowledge and vision exchange as it brings all stakeholders of Indian sports under one roof.
As told to V. V. Subrahmanyam.
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