Picture Credit: X
In one of the notable achievements, Forbes has released a new list of the world's highest-paid female athletes of 2024. The list comprises of 11 women, who crossed over $10 million mark in the year. Forbes listed PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, as the world's highest-paid female shuttler and is placed 17th in the list. Sindhu, who has won five BWF World Championship medals, including gold in 2019, earned $7.1 million (approx INR 60 Crore) in 2024. Sindhu also finished as India's highest-paid female athlete with her total earning breakdown showing a meagre $0.1 million (about INR 85 Lakh) in on-field revenue, and a huge $7 million (roughly INR 59 Crore) coming from sponsorship deals.
"Sindhu’s name recognition may be lacking in the US, but she is a huge marketing star in her native India. This is her sixth appearance on Forbes’ female athlete earnings ranking," Forbes mentioned in its list of 2024. The 29-year-old shuttler recently got married to Venkata Datta Sai in Udaipur.
PV Sindhu's eyes big 2025
The ace shuttler has a growing social media following, amassing 4 million followers on Instagram. Additionally, the 29-year-old shuttler supports well-known businesses such as Spinny, Maybelline, Bank of Baroda, Bridgestone India, and others. According to MoneyControl, her endorsement fees range between INR 1.2-2.25 Crore for each deal. Notably, India.com reports that in 2019, she signed a deal worth INR 50 Crore with the Chinese sports organisation Li Ning.
On-field, PV Sindhu has gained tremendous achievements too. She successfully led the Indian women's team to its first title at the Badminton Asia Team Championships in February 2024 and also acted as the country's co-flag bearer during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games opening ceremony.
Sindhu, who had won a silver medal in Rio in 2016 and a bronze in Tokyo in 2021, was however, eliminated in the round of 16 by China’s He Bing Jiao. In 2024, she won the Syed Modi India International, and earned $0.1 million in 2024 from her on-field performances, with sponsorship deals accounting for the remainder of her earnings. Previously, she was the 12th highest-paid female athlete in 2022, earning the same amount.
