PV Sindhu Named Ambassador For 'i am badminton' Awareness Campaign

World Champion shuttler PV Sindhu is one of the ambassadors for 'i am badminton', an awareness campaign, Badminton World Federation (BWF) announced recently. Sindhu will be promoting a healthy platform for players where they would “express love and respect for badminton by advocating and committing to clean and honest play”, India Today reported.

"This message starts with one voice. If we as ambassadors can highlight this, then I think this will spread to more players," said the badminton player.

Key Takeaways:

• PV Sindhu has been chosen as one of the ambassadors for 'i am badminton' an awareness campaign, BWF unveiled recently
• Sindhu along with other ambassadors will advocate for clean and honest games.
• You are playing the sport for yourself. You have to play it very clean. - PV Sindhu

Sindhu, the first Indian woman to win a silver medal at the Olympics, further expressed how important it is for players to join hands in advocating for clean and honest games. "You are playing the sport for yourself. You need to be happy about it. You have to play it very clean and that is very important to me," said the 24-year-old. Sindhu has recently laid the foundation of her own badminton academy in Chennai too.

Joining Sindhu in the cause, other ambassadors include Canada's Michelle Li, the Chinese duo of Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong, England's Jack Shephard, Germany's Valeska Knoblauch, Hong Kong's Chan Ho Yuen and Germany's Marc Zwiebler, who is Athletes' Commission Chair.

Also Read:The Gender Pay Gap In Sport: Why We Must Talk About It

What is 'i am badminton' campaign?

Talking about the campaign BWF said in a release"It's hoped such a concerted effort will not only raise awareness across the entire badminton landscape but encourage players to be active participants in shaping the integrity of the sport".

"Every player has the right to compete in clean and fair sport. Match fixing, match manipulation and doping are contrary to the spirit of sport. As an ambassador, we all play an important role in safeguarding the future of badminton," said BWF President Poul-Erik Hyer, a former player who has fronted the campaign.

"Our youth and Para badminton players are perceived to be at greater risk of match manipulation and doping due to their lack of exposure on the international circuit.”

"The idea of the 'i am badminton' campaign is for us as role models to share our experiences with these target groups so they have a heightened level of awareness on the importance of anti-match manipulation and anti-doping,” Hyer explained.

High on Olympics dream

The badminton star, who scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win a World Championships gold medal last year, claimed silver at the Rio Olympics in 2016. After making her debut in 2009, in 2018, she made it to the Forbes List Of 30 Under 30 Asia list. The Hyderabad-based badminton player is among India’s favourites for another Olympic medal at the Tokyo 2021 Games.

Feature Image Credits: The New Indian Express

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