Sindhu keen to shed silver medallist tag

Indian shuttler P.V. Sindhu wants to change the colour of her medal from silver to gold in the upcoming World Championship.

Reflecting on the chances of meeting her compatriot Saina Nehwal in the Worlds final, Sindhu feels it cannot be ruled out.

Brushing aside the disappointment of losing three major finals this year, Rio Olympics silver medallist P.V. Sindhu says she is determined to change the colour of the medal (from silver in the last edition) to gold in the World Championship to be held later this month.

“Well, the draw is really tough. You have to be patient. But, fortunately, the preparations have been really good and I hope to get the momentum going from the start to the finish,” says the 23-year-old champion shuttler in a chat with Sportstar after another demanding training schedule at Gopi Chand Academy here.

“You see as the event progresses it is only going to be tougher. So, like always, it all boils down to how well you respond to the challenges on the given day,” the World No. 3 says.

“I am really pleased with the way I have been playing, though I may not be winning as many titles as one could have expected. Sometimes, they depend on the shuttle and the wind conditions at the venue,” she adds.

Sindhu feels that she doesn’t want to carry the tag of being a silver medallist in the last edition when she enters this month championship. “That is past. You have to live in the present and being in the circuit, having beaten some of the best, I am confident, if not overconfident, to get the better of many of them as I believe all the preparations will come good once again,” she explains.

Sindhu also says that she is not overtly bothered at many of her big matches going into the third game where she might just struggle a bit. “I don’t think it is the case. Lot of factors come into play in such situations. You certainly need an element of luck sometimes which I feel the opponents are fortunate to be smiling on them in crunch time. I do believe that I am playing really well,” she insists.

Referring to the women’s singles competition in general, Sindhu says that Chinese are not as dominant as they were till recently, there are three or four very good young players who can rattle the best. “But it is obvious that the Japanese girls Minatsu Mitani, Nozomi Okuhara (who beat Sindhu in the last World’s final and recently in the Thailand Open final) are doing really well. Then there is Korean Sung Ji Yun, World No. 1 Tai Tzu Ying of Taipei who is always a major threat for anyone. I mean it is a good sign for world badminton itself,” she says.

Reflecting on the chances of meeting her compatriot Saina Nehwal in the Worlds final, a smiling Sindhu feels it cannot be ruled out.

“And, if that happens, it will be a great day for Indian badminton. Definitely, she has been really playing well and it is a big challenge to face her too. I am ready for such a clash if it happens, you will have to face anyway,” she adds.