Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has delivered a grounding message to students in Gurugram, insisting that "nobody is born with a golden spoon" and that success in any field is rarely a straight line. Speaking during a candid fireside chat at DPS International on Tuesday, the badminton star was joined by educationist Devyani Jaipuria to discuss the grit and discipline required to survive the professional world, whether in a jersey or a school uniform.
The conversation moved quickly beyond the usual highlight reels of podium finishes, focusing instead on the psychological toll of elite competition. Sindhu admits that at various points in her career, she has actually lost more matches than she has won. Reflecting on the "near-misses" that preceded her World Championship gold, she confessed there were dark moments when she questioned if it was simply not meant to be. "But there is always a next time," she told the pupils. "You have to keep trying every single time and believe that you can do it."
For Devyani Jaipuria, the session served as a call to action for the Indian education system. She, further, argued that sport should no longer be treated as a secondary "extracurricular" activity, but rather as one of the most effective classrooms for teaching life skills like perseverance and courage. She stressed that schools must reimagine how they prepare children for the realities of adulthood, where setbacks are a mathematical certainty.
Both speakers also highlighted the "invisible" infrastructure behind every successful individual. Sindhu credited her parents and coaches for sticking by her during the lean years, noting that a support system is most critical precisely when the results aren't showing. "Success does not come easy," she added. "Sometimes it takes years, and that is when support matters the most."
The session wrapped up with a lively Q&A, with students pressing the pair on how to handle the mounting pressure of modern ambition. Sindhu’s parting advice remained consistent: there are no shortcuts to the top, and the only true failure is the refusal to get back on court after a loss.
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