Rio 2016: A valiant brush with gold
It’s the best-ever feat by an Indian woman athlete at Olympics

It’s the best-ever feat by an Indian woman athlete at Olympics
In the end, it was so near, and yet so far. India’s eagerly-awaited first gold medal for eight long years came within touching distance before being yanked away by a fiesty Spaniard who blunted Pusarla Venkata Sindhu’s gallant challenge in the final of the women’s singles badminton competition in Rio de Janeiro on Friday.
Carolina Marin proved to be just too much of a challenge for the Hyderabad girl, and Sindhu’s plucky charge was first slowed, and then brought to a halt, over an hour and 23 minutes as she lost 21-19, 12-21, 15-21 to the two-time world champion.
Both women were powered on by vociferous galleries as they did battle, but in the end it was the variety and relentless pressure the left-handed Marin brought to the court that proved to be the decisive difference.
Sindhu’s medal was India’s fourth silver at the Olympics behind those won by shooters Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (2004, Athens) and Vijay Kumar (2012, London), and wrestler Sushil Kumar (2012, London).
Sindhu, a two-time World Championship bronze medallist, also became the fifth woman from India to win an Olympic medal — and the first across all sport to clinch silver.
For countrymen back home, the result may have been something of a let-down after expectations of a gold win had soared, but there was solid, even emotional support for Sindhu’s brave effort as streets emptied out for the duration of the match.
“I think I’m more heartbroken today than I was a week ago! Well played @Pvsindhu1 you are an inspiration to me!” tweeted India’s only individual gold medallist, Abhinav Bindra.
Two of India’s biggest icons were equally quick to react. Said Amitabh Bachchan, “#PVSindhu you played your heart out! All of India is so so proud of you... Thank for giving us that moment of pride!!!,” while Sachin Tendulkar tweeted, “Well played India’s youngest individual @Olympics medal winner @Pvsindhu1. You have won our hearts with the splendid performance. #Rio2016”.
Awards and encomiums will follow now, but spare a thought for Sindhu as she retires for the night knowing she fought her way to touching distance of truly golden glory. A silver medal will be cold comfort after that, the warmth, gratitude and support of a billion-plus Indians notwithstanding.