World No. 4 P. V. Sindhu stressed that consistency in performance is tougher than hitting a peak.
“Players in the top-20 are tough to beat. Rankings do not matter as much as match-day performance. You may be facing a lower-ranked player, but it is not easy. Reaching a high level is okay, but maintaining it is difficult,” said the Rio Games silver medallist at the IDBI Federal Life Insurance’s ‘Quest for Excellence’ programme here.
“The Rio Games silver is a dream come true, and it boosted my outlook,” said Sindhu.
“I had been winning many bronzes in competitions including the Asian Games (women’s team event in Incheon 2014). So when I reached the semifinal (against Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara) in Rio, I told myself about moving beyond the bronzes,” said Sindhu who lost to World No. 1 Carolina Marin in the final.
On her association with coach P. Gopichand, who was also present, Sindhu said: “He is always motivating you, he tells you the mistakes made, and this way pushes you to get better. He has been through these stages as a player, so knows what is going on in your mind.”
Sindhu trains at Gopichand’s Academy in Hyderabad.
Speaking of the ‘Quest for Excellence’ programme, Gopichand said: “Our effort will be to make players the best they can be, and hence the ‘Quest for Excellence’.”
Gopichand also acknowledged the support he received from the government over the years, in terms of funds for travelling physios, sparring partners and sports-analysts. P. Kashyap and K. Srikanth were also present at the programme.
IDBI Federal CEO, Vignesh Shahane, said: “India clearly proved its mettle in badminton in Rio. We wish to continue this momentum and support talented players at the Gopichand Academy.”
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