The accolades don’t seem to stop for PV Sindhu. Ever since the girl from Andhra made the country proud in Rio, Sindhu’s popularity has sky rocketed. In next to no time, the badminton ace has managed to win over the corporate world, as some of the major brands in the country want her to endorse their products. According to recent reports, PV Sindhu is the second highest paid sportsperson in the India.

In a country where in cricket is held to a higher standard as compared to other sports, Sindhu’s role in popularizing badminton must not be understated. While her performances on the court have brought laurels to the country, her personality and attitude off it, has made her a youth icon for all youngsters.

As things stand right now, Sindhu commands between Rs 1 – Rs 1.25 crores per day for any appearance. In comparison, Virat Kohli, who is the highest paid sportsperson in the country, charges Rs 5 crores.

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“Sindhu’s brand value has increased almost 50 per cent after August last year. She has been consistent in the tournaments post Olympics and that shows Rio was not a flash in the pan. Her world ranking has surged,” says R Ramakrishnan, director, Baseline Ventures, the sports management firm that represents Sindhu.

“Apart from her performance on court, which included winning the China Open and the India Open, it also has got to do with her personality. She is articulate, exudes a natural charm and the fact that badminton is now well covered on television means the recall factor is better and she is top of the mind as far as her on-court exploits are concerned.”

“Even with Sindhu, there is a tendency to balk at what she expects monetarily, comparing her to Bollywood actors. FMCG brands in particular see actors as better ROI (return on investment), as they have at least three releases in a year and figure in film glossies periodically. In contrast, the risk element is far higher in a Sindhu.”

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While Saina Nehwal was the one who pioneered the rise of badminton in the eyes of the corporate world, Sindhu has taken it to another level all together. But brands have still not opened their doors to the male badminton players, as the likes of Saina and Sindhu are still considered the standard bearers of Indian badminton.

With all things considered, we must salute Sindhu for her success, and not underestimate the role that she has played in making badminton a household topic of discussion in the country. And something tells me that this is just the beginning.