India's PV Sindhu shines in Forbes' highest-paid female athletes, sole shuttler on the list

Recently, Forbes magazine unveiled its 'Top 20 highest-paid Female Athletes' list, featuring Indian badminton sensation PV Sindhu as the sole representative from India and the lone shuttler on the prestigious lineup. Notably, she shares the joint-16th position in terms of earnings with American gymnast Simone Biles, both boasting an estimated income of $7.1 million (approximately Rs 60 crore).

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Securing the top spot on the list is Polish tennis prodigy Iga Swiatek, who amassed an estimated $23.9 million (approximately Rs 199 crore) in 2023, credited to her triumph at the French Open. The dominance of tennis stars is evident in the list, with the exception of China's Eileen Gu (Freestyle Skiing), who is the sole non-tennis athlete in the top 10.

Despite encountering a left knee injury that led to her withdrawal from the French Open on October 26, Sindhu strategically secured a protected rank of No 10, safeguarding her position in BWF standings during her recovery.

Looking ahead to the Paris Olympics and aiming for a medal, Sindhu has opted to relocate from Hyderabad to Bengaluru for training under the guidance of legend Prakash Padukone. 

Despite acknowledging a niggle in her left knee, the determined 28-year-old shuttler shared this decision in a social media post, underscoring her unwavering commitment to the upcoming challenges.

"For those wondering and constantly asking me, the cat is finally out of the bag!!," she wrote on 'X' (formerly Twitter).

"Prakash sir is assuming the role of the mentor in my setup. I started training with him at the end of August, and it's been uphill ever since," wrote the former world champion.

"He's more than a mentor; he's my guide, my guru, and, above all, a true friend. I wholeheartedly believe he possesses the magic to bring out the absolute best in my game.