PV Sindhu, badminton star, may become first woman to fly Tejas at Aero India

PV Sindhu, an Olympic and World Championship silver medallist, is likely to create a new record as she may well become the show stopper at the 12th Plane Carnival in Bengaluru on Saturday. According to reports, the badminton sensation may be co-piloting a Light Combat Aircraft Tejas on the penultimate day of Aero India. 

Military sources said Sindhu will be co-piloting a Tejas aircraft. However, there has been no official confirmation of her participation. Sindhu would be the first woman to co-pilot the ‘indigenous iron bird’ Tejas, according to the report.

Sindhu will be in the cockpit of the PV 5 or PV 6 trainer versions of the plane fitted with tandem seats.

“Yes. We have been invited to the show in Bengaluru. We are waiting for the final programme,” Sindhu’s father PV Ramana has told Manorama.

“It’s a great honour for me to fly in a Tejas. It will be a proud moment and I am looking forward,” Sindhu said.

In December last year, Sindhu became the first Indian to win World Tour Finals with a victory over 2017 world champion Nozomi Okuhara. This was her career’s 14th title. Prior to this in 2018, she has won silver at the World Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Thailand Open and India Open. Dubbed a bridesmaid after falling short of gold on a number of occasions, Sindhu finally broke her jinx, screamed and sunk to her knees.