The parents of P.V. Sindhu, who Friday became the first Indian to reach the women's singles semifinals of the World Badminton Championships, dedicated the 18-year-old's achievement to chief national coach Pullela Gopichand.
"It feels nice that she is coming up nicely. We gave her all the encouragement we could and she has reached to a level where she is owing to sheer determination. The routine of reaching the academy at 4 a.m in the morning seems to be bearing fruit," P. Vijaya said minutes after her daughter's 21-18, 21-17 win over China's former World No.1 Shixian Wang in Guangzhou, assuring her of at least a bronze medal in the competition.
This will be only the third instance that an Indian will bring home a medal from the Worlds. Prakash Padukone won the men's singles bronze in 1983 at Copenhagen while Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa won another bronze in the women's doubles event in the last edition at London in 2011.
Sindhu's father P.V. Ramana, an Arjuna Awardee for his feats in volleyball, said they will celebrate the win with her daughter's friends at the Gopichand Badminton Academy here.
"We have to celebrate not only with Gopi but all the staff at the academy. The one reason Sindhu is doing well is that she enjoys the game," said Ramana.
"I just told her to play well before the match... she did. I hope she recovers in time for the semifinal," he added.
In the semifinal, Sindhu will face the winner of the other quarterfinal between Carolina Marin of Spain and fourth seeded Thai Ratchanok Intanon.