The path to success has always been the straight and narrow one for PV Sindhu. We take you back to the post-Awards night crowd at Taj Club House in Chennai on the glittering night of October 31, 2014 where we overheard the then-budding shuttler Sindhu saying, “Sorry, no after-hours party or tomorrow’s big weekend brunch for me. I have to rush.” The star-studded evening had the likes of Trisha, Shruti Haasan, Amala Paul, Nadhiya and other celebrities — but Sindhu had her sights set on a late-night work out at the gym and an early morning flight back to Hyderabad. She was leading the clean-up programme of Lingampally Railway Station the next morning as part of Swachch Bharat Abhiyan initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As we got chatting, one couldn’t help but ask the youngster why she was not staying back and partying. Only to be told that she never misses a workout — not once in the past three years! She giggled and added, “Nope, just as I don’t miss out on my sambar annam (sambar rice).” 

The then 19-year-old further admitted that she doesn’t even need a wake-up call. “I wake up naturally. It just happens.” As the Arjuna Awardee took leave finally, she did say, “Promise, I will mail you tomorrow morning.” At 3.12 am, my phone chimed an email notification. “Good meeting you Rice Bucket Challenger. Boarding flight now. Catch you in Hyderabad.” That’s Sindhu for you — she always delivers!