As the city’s proud daughter, PV Sindhu shoulders the hopes of a billion Indians later in the evening, the Chilkur Balaji temple in Hyderabad held a special puja, hoping for some divine intervention which could help Sindhu win.
As per custom, the temple also known as the Visa Balaji temple, usually holds 11 paradikshina. But on Friday, devotees instead performed extra Pradakshina in Chilkur Balaji temple for Sindhu to get the ultimate prize.
"The whole world is talking about our badminton champion, so we did too,” said Ranga Rajan, a priest of the temple.
“Junior badminton player Siril Varma requested us to perform special payers for Sindhu, so all the bhakts did two pradakshinas extra today and prayed for Sindhu's victory," added Rajan.
Siril also trains in the same academy run by Pullela Gopichand which has produced world beaters in the name of Saina and Sindhu.
Sindhu will be playing in the gold medal match against World No. 1 Carolina Marin of Spain at the Riocentro in Rio.
There is much anticipation as Sindhu has reached the finals of the women’s singles event after beating three higher-ranked players.
Every week, thousands of people throng the Chilkur Balaji Temple, situated on the outskirts of Hyderabad near the Osman Sagar lake, in a hope that their prayers for a visa in a foreign countryof their choice.