Kolkata, Sep 26: It was 1989 when a female badminton player from Bengal clinched the singles title in an international ranking championship in France. She was Madhumita Goswami (Singh Bisht).

And on Sunday (September 25), after 27 years of Madhumita's achievement, another prodigious female badminton player from Bengal won an international ranking tournament in Poland. She is Rituparna Das, the 20-year old who started her journey at the age of 6 in Haldia.

More importantly, after the stunning success of PV Sindhu in the Rio Olympics, Pullela Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad got another international success as Rituparna is also one of the most desirous students in Gachibowli. Even after joining Gopichand Academy in 2008, Rituparna was being ascribed as the future Saina Nehwal of Indian badminton.

Still, Rituparna had to receive big jolt when she had suffered severe knee injury 2 years ago while playing in a ranking tournament in Sri Lanka. And that was followed by a knee operation which forced Rituparna to be out of the court for one-and-half years.

Gopichand, while speaking over phone on his student's success, said, "It has been a great achievement as Rituparna had to spend one and half years, just lying down on the bed. And she has been training just for last 3 to 4 months. I knew, once she starts getting mentally strong she will be able to clinch more titles."

Rituparna also was elated to have won her first international title at the senior level. Speaking over phone from Bierun (Poland), Rituparna said, "Before coming to play here Gopi sir repeatedly advised me to be mentally tough and show aggression on the court. And I have tried to implement his advice all through the tournament. And Sindhu's success in the Rio Olympics has also inspired me a lot. This title will increase my confidence and guide me to progress towards more title."

OneIndia News