'Super sport' PV Sindhu's class act after final deserves more than gold

Indian badminton ace PV Sindhu may have lost the final of the women's singles badminton to Spain's Carolina Marin, but she won hearts all over with her display of true sportsman spirit and grace.

The shuttler is a brilliant role model at a young age of 21 for having all that's good about sports

On Friday, her dream of winning the final and becoming only the second gold medallist for India in Olympics history was dashed as she went down with guns blazing against world no. 1 Marin.

The two finalists hug after the match.

The 21-year-old Indian woman's gallant attempt to emulate the feat of shooter Abhinav Bindra in the Beijing Games eight years ago and join him in the list of individual Olympic champions was foiled by two-time world champion Marin as Sindhu was confined to the silver standard.

The World No. 10, who has been simply unstoppable in the tournament so far, crumbled under the tremendous pressure created by the two-time World Champion from Spain to lose 21-19 12-21 15-21 in a high-intensity final that lasted for an hour and 23 minutes at the Riocentre.

Sindhu thus became the fourth Indian to win a silver at the Olympics after shooters Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (2004, Athens) and Vijay Kumar (2012, London) and wrestler Sushil Kumar (2012, London).

The two-time World championship bronze medallist also became the fifth woman player from India to win a medal in Olympics history and the first to clinch a silver. She is also the youngest Indian to win a medal at the Olympics.

But despite all this heartbreak, Sindhu wasn't despondent. She displayed grace and class as she went over to Marin's side of the court after the match to hug her opponent and lift the 23-year-old who has been dubbed the "Girl Nadal in Spain".

This moment of greatness surely deserves a medal greater than gold -- platinum maybe.

PV Sindhu lifts an overwhelmed Carolina Marin.

And Twitterati agree. They took to the micro-blogging site to share their emotions at seeing Sindhu look past her disappointment to share in Marin's moment of glory.