Sindhu: ‘Saina and I enjoy our training sessions’

The champion shuttlers are preparing for the All England Championships together at the Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad.

Ace India shuttlers P.V. Sindhu (left) and Saina Nehwal complement each other owing to different playing styles.

 

It is a sight to behold, seeing two of the best women shuttlers in the world, P.V. Sindhu and Saina Nehwal, giving a ‘testing’ time to the chief national coach Pullela Gopichand at his academy. The Indian contingent is preparing for the All England Championships next week.

The way Gopichand shuttles around to be the encouraging partner to both of them and impart practical tips is a testimony to his passion to script few more success stories in badminton.

Read: Saina Nehwal geared up for All-England Championship

“It is good that Saina is back. We enjoy our training sessions, which are different because of our styles and requirements,” says the 22-year-old Sindhu in a chat with Sportstar .

“The competition is always there. But, it doesn’t mean that I have to do something differently just because Saina is there. It is a great feeling to be in the same place with the best of Indian talent, including top men’s top players like Kidambi Srikanth, H.S. Prannoy, Sai Praneeth and Parupalli Kashyap,” she adds.

“Honestly, we don’t share any thoughts on our game. She has her own ways of preparing for the challenges. Gopi sir knows exactly the kind of training we need and the preparations are really going well,” says the Rio Olympics silver medallist.

Tips at home

Sindhu also banks on her father P.V. Ramana’s experience as a former international volleyball player. He makes it a point to provide invaluable tips at home after the training sessions. “Not many know about this,” says Sindhu.

Asked about goals, the World Championship silver medallist says: “To do well in All England and like in any Super Series, you cannot expect it to be easy at any stage.”

“Frankly, I feel I am a much improved player in terms of my strokes and more patient now. But one should remember that you can’t win every match for different reasons. You might have off-days. So, the objective is always to give my best,” she says.

“It is a demanding schedule. We have to pick and choose the tournaments. Personally, I would not go to an event with 50% fitness,” says Sindhu.