BAI congratulates Sindhu on winning Malaysia Open

New Delhi, May 4 (IANS):

Badminton Association of India (BAI) president Akhilesh Das Gupta congratulated P.V. Sindhu for clinching her maiden Grand Prix Gold title at the $120,000 Malaysia Open in Kuala Lumpur Saturday.

The 17-year-old Sindhu, ranked 13th in the world, lived up to her top billing beating Singaporean Juan Gu in the women’s singles final. The Indian shuttler won 21-17, 17-21, 21-19 in one hour and 11 minutes at the Juara Indoor Stadium.

?This is a proud day for Indian sports and our country?s badminton. I congratulate P.V. Sindhu for bringing great laurels for India. Sindhu had come close to winning a Grand Prix Gold in the finals in Lucknow last year but I?m thrilled she has clinched her maiden GP title on foreign soil. She is capable of achieving much more and I?m sure her victory will boost Indian shuttlers to aim higher at the World Championship and Super Series tournaments,? Das Gupta said in a statement.

Sindhu thanked Das Gupta and her coaches for their support.

?This is a dream come true for me. I would like to thank the BAI president Akhilesh Das Gupta and chief coach Pullela Gopichand for motivating me and pushing me to excel,? said Sindhu.