PV Sindhu looks back at 'podiums, heartbreaks, and relentless early mornings'
India's two-time Olympic medallist,
PV Sindhu
, recently shared insights into her journey and the unseen struggles behind her achievements during a convocation address at
FLAME University
in Pune, Maharashtra.
Sindhu, who won a silver medal at the 2016
Rio Olympics
and a bronze at the
2020 Tokyo Olympics
, emphasised that while the world focuses on the medals, the sacrifices and hardships that lead to these victories often go unnoticed.
Speaking to the graduating batch, Sindhu highlighted the rigorous training and emotional challenges she faced, stating, "The world sees the medal, but they do not see the 4 AM alarms, the tears, the losses, and the days you show up when you do not want to.
At the Olympics, you do not just fight for a podium -- you fight for every invisible battle you have won to get there."
Her words underscored the resilience and dedication required to succeed at the highest levels of sport.
Addressing the topic of failure, Sindhu noted that it is an integral part of the journey to greatness. "In sport, sometimes you do not just show up after failure -- sometimes you show up while literally breaking.
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And that is where champions are built," she explained.
She further emphasised the necessity of failure, saying, "If one wants to do something big in life, they will have to fail for it. Repeatedly. Publicly. Sometimes, even hilariously."
Sindhu's speech was not only a motivational talk but also a personal moment for her, as her husband, Venkata Datta Sai, is an alumnus of the university.
She expressed her emotional connection to the institution, saying, "This was not just a speech for me, it was personal. My husband studied here, and FLAME has shown up in so many moments of my life. Today felt like a beautiful full-circle moment -- finally attending a FLAME graduation and sharing the lessons I have learned from podiums, heartbreaks, and relentless early mornings."
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