CREDIT: REUTERS
India’s hopes of a medal at the Rio Olympics were lifted on Tuesday, after one of its badminton players beat the world number two in the women’s singles quarterfinal match.
She will now meet Japan’s sixth seed Nozomi Okuhara, 21, on Thursday.
Sindhu’s victory was greeted at home with an outburst on social media, with one user tweeting “India is behind you’ and another declaring that "The girl is on fire".
Narendra Modi, India's prime minister, also sent his congratulations.
The daughter of two volleyball players in southern India, Sindhu began playing badminton at the age of eight.
And like former world number one Nehwal, she was coached by international player P Gopichand at his training academy in Hyderabad in southern India.
“She never gives up, and that’s her best quality” P Gopichand told the BBC.
India, which won a record six medals at the 2012 London Games, has not had a single podium finish so far in Rio.
Domestically, there is growing criticism over the country's poor performance, with analysts and officials blaming the "shameless politicisation" of sporting federations and disciplines.
Indian athletes were also inadequately kitted out, with the country’s boxing contingent at Rio threatened with disqualification for not wearing vests bearing their country’s name.
After much embarrassment, these were replaced, but India’s boxing hopes were knocked out in preliminary rounds.
Guests were served only peanuts at a dinner party hosted by the country’s federal Sports Ministry in Rio to celebrate Independence Day on Monday. The Indian athletes who skipped dinner at the Games village to attend this function are believed to have gone home hungry.
Source of article : Rio 2016: India's medal hopes boosted after shock badminton win
No comments:
Post a Comment