Andhra's pride, India's Olympian PV Sindhu turns 21

A billion hopes rest on the Padma Shri awardee as she prepares herself to counter the strong Chinese challenge in Brazil.

People close to her feel that Sindhu will be up to the task.

"The most striking feature of her game is her attitude and never-say-die spirit," says mentor and coach Pullella Gopichand, watching whom playing as a kid inspired Sindhu to take up the sport professionally.

The daughter of a former India volleyball player, Sindhu has said she is inspired by Saina Nehwal too, India's No.1 shuttler, who is also from Hyderabad.

Early years

Sindhu started training formally at the age of eight in Secunderabad and later joined the Pullela Gopichand badminton academy.

Going from strength to strength, she bagged a bronze  at the 2009 Sub-Junior Asian Badminton Championships, a silver at the 2010 Iran Fajr International Badminton Challenge and made the quarterfinals of the 2010 Junior World Badminton Championships in Mexico.

At the age of 15, she figured in India's national team at the 2010 Uber Cup.

Sindhu also reached the semis of the 2014 Commonwealth Games and became the first Indian to win back-to-back medals at the World Championships.

Sindhu began this year with a bang as she won the Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold Women’s singles title in January.

The whole of India would be hoping for Olympics glory for Sindhu -- and for Saina too -- in Rio.

One thing is certain, irrespective of who -- Sindhu or Saina -- wins a medal the Olympics, Andhra hearts are sure to swell with pride.