5 instances when Indian athletes stood out for their incredible acts of sportsmanship

#3 PV Sindhu shows her respect for the game after Rio 2016 final

The loss in finals to Marin did not make Sindhu lose her values and the latter helped her opponent out

PV Sindhu had beaten three higher-ranked opponents on the way to the final of her maiden Olympic Games in Rio. However, she fell just short of defeating the eventual champion Carolina Marin of Spain in a classic encounter in the gold medal match.

Sindhu’s glorious giant-killing run was brought to an end, suitably by the World No. 1. Marin had won 19-21, 21-12, 21-15. Sindhu, saddened by the narrow loss sat down on the court. She then waved to the crowd and went to Marin, lifting her to her feet.

It was then that Sindhu did something untypical. She saw Marin's racquet lying on the ground after parting ways, which Marin had flung it in her excitement. Sindhu picked it up, and carefully laid it by the side of the court, alongside Marin's bag.

Her gesture to pick up the racquet shows how much she respects her sport, and how much she respects her opponents.