Currently out of action due to a sore left knee, PV Sindhu has hit the headlines, this time for her money, as the Indian star shooter was named the world’s 16th highest paid female athlete in 2023 by Forbes on Friday. In fact, Sindhu is the only shuttler and Indian in the list of top 20 female athletes published by the American business magazine. She is number 16 on the list together with the American gymnast Simone Biles. Both Sindhu and Biles have an estimated earnings of $7.1 million (about Rs 60 crore).
With the likes of Serena Williams retired and Naomi Osaka on the sidelines for the year, the list is topped by Polish tennis sensation Iga Swiatek. After winning the French Open this year, Swiatek has earned an estimated $23.9 million (approx. Rs 199 crore) in 2023.
The list is dominated by tennis stars, with China’s Eileen Gu (FREESTYLE SKIING) the only exception in the top 10.
Meanwhile, Sindhu has opted for a protected rank of No. 10, which will be locked in the BWF rankings until she recovers.
She suffered the injury to her left knee and withdrew during her second round women’s singles match against Thailand’s Supanida Katethong at the French Open on 26 October.
Sindhu is eyeing a medal at next year’s Paris Olympics and is now shifting her base from Hyderabad to Bengaluru to train under the legendary Prakash Padukone in the build-up to the Paris Games.
The 28-year-old had a week-long stint under Padukone in September, and before the Asian Games she had indicated she would train under him. The 28-year-old, who is nursing a niggle in his left knee, finally revealed the move in a post on social media.
“For those wondering and constantly asking me, the cat is finally out of the bag!!,” she wrote on ‘X’, formerly twitter.
“Prakash sir takes on the role of mentor in my setup. I started training with him at the end of August and it’s been uphill ever since,” the former world champion wrote.
“He is more than a mentor; he is my guide, my guru and above all a true friend. I believe wholeheartedly that he possesses the magic to bring out the absolute best in my game.
(With PTI inputs)
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