May 19, 2025: Indian badminton star and two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu delivered a stirring convocation address at FLAME University on Sunday, offering a rare glimpse into the unseen struggles behind her sporting triumphs.
Addressing the graduating class in Pune, Sindhu said:
“The world sees the medal, but they do not see the 4 AM alarms, the tears, the losses, and the days you show up when you do not want to. At the Olympics, you do not just fight for a podium—you fight for every invisible battle you have won to get there.”
Sindhu, who won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and a bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, became the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals. In her speech, she emphasized how failure and persistence are integral to success.
“In sport, sometimes you do not just show up after failure — sometimes you show up while literally breaking. And that is where champions are built,” she said.
Sindhu stressed the importance of resilience and learning from setbacks, adding:
“If you want to do something big in life, you will have to fail for it — repeatedly, publicly, sometimes even hilariously.”
The badminton ace also shared a personal connection with FLAME University, revealing that her husband, Venkata Datta Sai, is an alumnus.
“This was not just a speech for me, it was personal. My husband studied here, and FLAME has shown up in so many moments of my life. Today felt like a beautiful full-circle moment — finally attending a FLAME graduation and sharing the lessons I have learned from podiums, heartbreaks, and relentless early mornings.”
As she inspired students with her hard-won wisdom, Sindhu also set her sights on her next goal — a strong performance at the Malaysia Masters tournament, which kicks off Tuesday at the Stadium Axiata Arena KL Sports City in Bukit Jalil.