PV Sindhu bagged 16th position in the Forbes’ list of highest-paid female athletes in the world with a net worth of nearly $7.1 million
Badminton player and two-time Olympic medal winner Pusarla Venakata (PV) Sindhu will have all eyes on her this Christmas season, but it's not because of her game. The 29-year-old badminton player is set to tie the knot with IT professional Venkata Datta Sai on December 22. The news of the player getting married was confirmed by her father, PV Ramana. The decision of marriage was taken by both the families quickly, as Sindhu has to start training for her next season, her father told PTI.
“So that is the reason the two families decided to have the marriage ceremony on December 22. The reception will be held in Hyderabad on December 24. She will start her training soon after as the next season is going to be important,” Sindhu’s father, PV Ramana, told PTI.
Sindhu is a household name in India and has garnered worldwide fame for “placing India on the badminton map.” The badminton player has won many accolades and recognition not just for herself but for India. She bagged a bronze medal in women’s singles at the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and a silver medal at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016. In 2018, she clinched a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.
Sindhu started playing badminton at the age of eight and since then has gone on to play at various national and international levels. Her achievements don’t just stop there, according to Forbes, she is among the highest-paid athletes in India. In 2023, she bagged 16th position in Forbes’ list of highest-paid female athletes in the world with a net worth of nearly $7.1 million. The 29-year-old badminton player earns $100,000 from matches and around $7 million is largely due to endorsement deals.
She is one of the key sporting ambassadors in the country presently. She has been the face of many brands related to sports and wellness, including Bank of Baroda, Stayfree and Bridgestone. Her brand value, according to the Economic Times, is around $28 million.
The world health organisation (WHO) observed 2024 as ‘World No Tobacco Day 2024’ and Sindhu was designated as the brand ambassador for Tobacco Control by the union health ministry. Recently in May this year, she joined wellness brand Hoop as an investor and brand ambassador.
Venkata Dutta Sai is a close family friend of PV Sindhu. Venkata is a Hyderabad-based IT professional and currently serves as a director at Posidex Technologies. During his work stint with JSW, he managed the IPL’s Delhi Capitals team.
“My BBA in finance and economics pales in comparison to managing an IPL team, but I must admit I learnt a lot from both of these experiences,” said Sai on LinkedIn.