In a touching display of camaraderie, Indian badminton star PV Sindhu has penned a heartfelt message congratulating her friend and boxing champion Kellie Harrington on her recent triumph at the Paris Olympics.
Harrington scripted history by becoming the first Irish female athlete to win gold at back-to-back Olympic Games, following her win over China’s Wenlu Yang in the women’s 60kg final at Paris 2024.
Sindhu’s message not only lauded Harrington’s stellar achievement but also highlighted the deep friendship that has developed between them in a short span of time.
“When I was lost and struggling to cope, one of the most heartfelt messages I received was from an Irish boxer I had met less than eight weeks earlier. It was from a champion who probably knew what I was feeling, and it was heartwarming,” recalled Sindhu, who won a silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics and a bronze at Tokyo 2020.
Continuing her effusive praise of the Dubliner boxer, Sindhu said: “This hard-hitting, badass lady is an Olympic champion, European champion, and world champion, among other titles. She is the defending gold medalist from Tokyo.”
“I am proud to say that my dear friend Kellie is now a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a certified badass lady,” she added.
In the Facebook post, the Indian ace shuttler also shared a light-hearted moment they had. “The first thing I said to her after her spar was, ‘I wouldn’t want to be on the end of one of those punches! ”
Sindhu also reflected on how her friendship with the Irish boxing team has sparked her interest in the sport, adding a humorous note about how she has started watching boxing matches.
Sindhu also gave a shoutout to the Irish boxing contingent, acknowledging the team spirit and dedication that contributed to Harrington’s success.
