On Saturday, PV Sindhu hit the big 3-0 landmark. The star Indian shuttler, who has won medals at Tokyo and Paris Olympics, turned 30. To mark the occasion, veteran badminton commentator and former doubles player, Gill Clark, posted an inspirational message on her X account. Clark, a former World Championships medallist herself in mixed doubles and women’s doubles, recounted Sindhu’s well-established reputation as one of the greatest big-tournament shuttlers in the world. But Clark also said Sindhu could still script a memorable chapter after turning 30, citing the example of Roger Federer and Felix Sanchez.
Here’s Gill Clark’s birthday message for Sindhu in full:
“Athletes tend to be defined by how they perform at the major events, the Olympic Games and world championships. They are the ultimate test as every rival shares that same burning desire to perform to their best. Everyone has prepared, everyone has the desire, but it’s only a rare few who actually have the mindset and character to deliver.
Pusarla Venkata Sindhu has always been a “big tournament player” with 2 Olympic and 5 world championship medals (plus medals at Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Asian Championships).
But what is so remarkable, and testament to Sindhu’s character and “big tournament player” reputation, is that with all 7 medals won at the world championships or Olympic Games, she surpassed expectations according to her ranking at the time. Seeded 9 in Rio when she won Olympic Silver, and 5 when she became world champion in 2019.
Athletes tend to be defined by how they perform at the major events, the Olympic Games and world championships. They are the ultimate test as every rival shares that same burning desire to perform to their best. Everyone has prepared, everyone has the desire, but it’s only a rare… pic.twitter.com/GuPQhwY8e3
— Gill Clark aka Oma Gill (@OmaGillClark) July 5, 2025
There is no doubt, therefore, that Sindhu has that remarkable and rare ability to produce her absolute best on the very biggest of global stages.
But it’s now 4 years since her medal in Tokyo, and 6 years since her last world championship medal, and with Sindhu turning 30 today (on World #Badminton Day) some have wondered whether advancing years and recent injury problems have taken their toll.
However, sport is littered with inspirational stories of athletes coming back after injuries and a period of barren success. Roger Federer missed most of the 2016 season due to injury, but at the age of 35 he made a miraculous comeback to win the 2017 Australian Open, his first Grand Slam title since 2012.
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Félix Sánchez, a 400m hurdler was unbeaten for 43 races from 2001 to 2004 winning Olympic and 2 world championship Golds in that period. For 8 years he then struggled and was ranked 7th going into the 2012 Olympics, but against all odds he won a second Gold, 8 years after his first.
Sindhu’s place in history is already secured by her medal haul at the Majors. And it is certainly possible Sindhu, like Federer and Sánchez, could write yet another chapter in her remarkable career. Because, while circumstances may change, the character and mindset of a champion endures.
Happy birthday Sindhu.”
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