P.V. Sindhu: ‘I could have played much more patiently’

Sindhu also said that there were certain areas she needs to improve and hopes that she could come back stronger on Friday.

P.V. Sindhu sailed into the quarterfinals of the All-England Badminton Championship, on Thursday. (File Photo)

Indian shuttler P.V. Sindhu, who came up with a fighting performance to notch up a deserving win against Nitchaon Jindapol of Thailand, entered the quarterfinals of the All-England Championship on Thursday.

Following her hard-fought match, Sindhu said there were certain areas she needed to improve and hoped to come back stronger on Friday.

"Of course, I am happy. I was actually down in the third set, like 12-16. But, I came back. It was almost over, but I thought of fighting back until the last point. I did 16-16, and I went down again. However, I won 21-18. While trailing in the last game, the next point was important for me, although it was not the game point. Following then, I had to be very much focussed for every next point," said Sindhu after the match.

READ: Sindhu survives Jindapol scare to make All England Championship quarters

"She is not an easy player. She has good strokes. The first set was a bit easy for me as she was giving away some easy points. However, from the second game, it wasn't easy as there were a few long rallies and she was in the match. I gave away a huge lead in the second game, and by the time I wanted to cover up, she had won the game. I was very much alert from the very first point of the third game. Even though I was leading 11-9, I was again trailing 12-16 at one point. I could have played much more patiently as I made a few unforced errors," she added.

On her current form, she said: "I definitely need to improve a few things. However, considering today's match, I am happy as I have managed to pull out a tough match, while trailing behind. I hope to go back, recover and come back stronger, tomorrow."

On the quarterfinals on Friday, she said: "Not thinking about it as the quarterfinals, but just another match. I would give my best. Let's see what happens in the match which would decide my quarterfinal opponent, and I would be playing against her."