PV Sindhu's gallant attempt to win a coveted gold medal for India ended in heart-break in when she went down fighting against Spain's Carolina Marin and settled for a silver in the women's singles badminton competition of the Rio Olympics.
Indian supporters of India's badminton star Pusarla Sindhu cheer while watching live telecast of the final of women's singles badminton match in Hyderabad, India
The two-time World championship bronze medallist also became the fifth woman player from India to win a medal in Olympics and the first to clinch silver.
Sindhu 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).
Marin, who celebrated almost every victorious point by shrieking at the top of her voice, lost the first game 21-19 but grabbed the second 21-12 before clinching gold with a 21-15 win in the decider.
The 21-year-old Indian crumbled under the relentless pressure created by Marin to lose 21-19, 12-21, 15-21 in a pulsating final that lasted for an hour and 23 minutes at the Riocentre in Rio.
Weightlifter Karnam Malleshwari (2000, Sydney), boxer MC Mary Kom (2012, London), shuttler Saina Nehwal (2012, London) and wrestler Sakshi Malik (Rio, 2016) are the other women players from India to have won a medal in Olympics.
Sindhu became the fourth Indian to win a silver at the Olympics.