PV Sindhu Offers Prayers In Tirupati After Winning World Badminton Championship

Newly crowned world badminton champion PV Sindhu on Friday offered prayers at the famoushill shrine of Lord Venkateswara in nearby Tirumala. An ardent devotee of Lord Venkateswara, Sindhu was on a thanksgiving visit to the ancient temple after becoming the first ever Indian to win the world title at the championships held in Switzerland on Sunday. The 24-year-old ace shuttler accompanied by her parents arrived at the sacred Tirumala Hills on Thursday evening after offering prayers at the Goddess Sri Padmavathi temple in Tiruchanur near here, a temple official told PTI. After overnight stay on the hills, she visited the LordVenkateswara shrine paid obeisance to the presiding deity Friday morning, the official said.     

Later, speaking to mediapersons, Sindhu said she was on a thanksgiving visit after winning the world championship title. With the divine blessings of Lord Venkateswara she wouldcontinue to excell in future also, she added.

Sindhu was welcomed exuberantly on her return to the country and promised to work harder to clinch more medals. The Olympic silver-medallist, who out-played Japan's Nozomi Okuhara 21-7 21-7 in a lop-sided final. Despite the hectic schedule she has endured, the 24-year-old had a smile on her face as she acknowledged supporters and the media at the airport. "I am really happy, I am very proud of my country. It's a much-awaited win and I am very happy about it," she said in response to questions that were thrown at her almost at the same time.   

Andhra Pradesh: Shuttler PV Sindhu visits Balaji Temple in Tirumala. She had won gold medal at the BWF World Championships on August 25. pic.twitter.com/U1LWEZblSL

— ANI (@ANI) August 30, 2019

The Hyderabadi has had little time to reflect since her historic triumph. She has had a breakfast meeting with Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the day. "I will work more hard and win many more medals," she said on questions about the plans from now given that the Olympics is less than a year away.

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HIGHLIGHTS

• PV Sindhu won the gold medal in World Badminton Championship in Basel.
• PV Sindhu defeated Nozomi Okuhara in the final.
• Sindhu had secured two silver and two bronze medals in previous editions.