Hyderabad: Before World Number five PV Sindhu demolished Japan's Nozomi Okuhara on the way to her maiden Gold medal in BWF World Championship, no other Indian shuttler had declared their dominance on the world stage like the Hyderabad born badminton star.
Prakash Padukone was the first Indian to bag a medal (bronze) in BWF World Champions in 1983. After 28 years, India's women's doubles duo of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa brought India it's second BWF Worlds medal (bronze) in 2011.
Sindhu won two back-to-back bronze medals in 2013 and 2014, while another Hyderabadi Saina Nehwal bagged the silver medal in 2015. Two years later, Sindhu and Nehwal won silver and bronze medal respectively.
In 2018 Sindhu once again finished second as she was beaten by Spain's Carolin Marin in the BWF Worlds final.
Meanwhile, India's Sai Praneeth also scripted history on Saturday by winning a bronze medal in men's singles. He achieved this 36 years after Prakash Padukone's historic feat. Praneeth's bronze medal takes India's overall tally to three silvers and six bronze medals in Worlds.
The only thing missing from India's cabinet was an elusive gold. Litlle did we now, PV Sindhu was determined to fill that space.
There were questions raised over Sindhu's ability to handle the pressure on the big stages, as the World Number 5 had lost 10 finals including two WBC since losing in the final of 2016 Rio Olympics.
Many sports journalist and badminton enthusiasts even went on to label her as a choker because of her inability to cross the last line.
However, on Sunday during her third concecutive WBC final, Sindhu had little to lose as she was set to face her old nemesis Okuhara.
Okuhara had thrashed PV Sindhu 19-21, 22-20, 20-22 in 2017 WBC finals in an epic clash that lasted one hour fifty minutes.
When Okuhara and Sindhu walked on the court, much like 2017, the Japanese was counted as favourite against the Indian. Interestingly, when Sindhu lost her first point, it was like deja vu all over again. Many Indian fans for a moment skipped a beat expecting the worst.
However, what followed was a masterclass and pure savagery. As Sindhu demolished Okhara in two straight sets 21-7, 21-7 to finally stand atop on the podium.
With her win over Okuhara in the final, Sindhu became the first-ever shuttler in the history of the game to be a defending women's singles medalist at the Olympics, World Championship, Asian Games and Commonwealth games at the same time.
Sindhu had won the silver medal at Rio Olympics in 2016, Asian Games 2018, and Commonwealth games 2018.
It is also notable that Sindhu (She has two bronze, two silver and one gold medal in WBC) is also the joint highest medal holder alongside China's Zhang Ning.
