PV Sindhu ranked seventh in Forbes list of highest paid female athletes

Ace Indian shuttler PV Sindhu has been ranked seventh on the Forbes’ list of highest-earning women sportspersons in the world. The list, dominated by female Tennis players have Sindhu and former American professional race car driver Daniela Patrick ($7.5 million) as the only two non-tennis players in the list released on Wednesday.

According to the list, the Rio Olympics silver medallist has total earnings $8.5 million – of which $8 million are from endorsements alone. The rest comes from the prize money, which she has won in June 2017-June 2018 period. Sindhu is also the first Asian since South Korean figure skater Kim Yuna in 2014, to make the list of female athletes with most earnings.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have been featured in this list. To be honest, bringing laurels to my country has always been my top-most priority and such accolades are by-products. My agency Baseline Ventures has done an amazing job in building my brand and I don’t think I can thank them enough,” said Sindhu in a chat with ESPN.

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It is also for the first time in her career that the two-time World Championships bronze medallist has broken into the top 10 of the Forbes list, which is headed by Serena Williams.

“The Indian badminton player burst on the scene with a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics. She was the first Indian female athlete to win a silver. The 23-year-old has a robust sponsor roster with Bridgestone, Gatorade, Nokia, Panasonic, Reckitt Benckiser and a half-dozen other brands,” wrote Forbes describing the top-most ranked Indian shuttler.

Sindhu is also the brand ambassador for the Central Reserve Police Force and Vizag Steel.

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Meanwhile, Serena who returned to Tennis court after a 14-month pregnancy lay-off has a total earning of $18.062 million. Most of her earnings during the period she gave birth to her daughter Olympia have come from endorsements with only $62,000 coming as prize money.

Williams is followed by fellow tennis players Caroline Wozniacki ($13 million), US Open champion Sloane Stephens ($11.2 million), Garbine Muguruza ($11 million), and Maria Sharapova ($10.5 million).

Venus Williams along with Sindhu, current World No.1 Simona Halep, Danica Patrick, and Wimbledon 2018 champion Angelique Kerber complete the top 10.