With under 20 days to go for the start for Rio 2016, the preparations for all athletes is on in full swing. Among the 120- odd contingent from India that will take the flight to the Brazilian capital, there will be seven shuttlers and among those, the one who will shoulder the Women’s Singles challenge with her experienced colleague will be 21-year-old PV Sindhu.
In a career spanning just over 5 years, Sindhu has already seen many a memorable moment. Twice a World Championship bronze medalist, The lanky shuttler has shown that she has it in her to get a medal from Rio, but it will be a different challenge altogether when she faces up against the best in Brazil next month.
“You have to be at your best in every aspect of the game for the top guns will be there in Olympics,” she said in an interview to The Hindu.
“The ability to adapt to a given strategy on the court with high-level reaction speed and being prepared to unravel your own game-plan for a specific opponent in any scenario will be the key to success,” she added.
If there was a factor in her game that has led to a see-saw in her rankings, it has been her inability to constantly deliver good performances on the world stage. That she says, is an aspect where she has put a lot of wok with chief coach Pullela Gopichand. She also adds at Rio, rankings will matter for less and anyone can beat anybody else on their day.
“Yes, consistency right through an event is the key. That is what coach [Gopi Chand] and I are really working on.
“For sure, not even the lower-ranked players will come to Olympics and make things easy for you. You have to earn every win,” the 21-year-old added.
Olympic medal my biggest dream: Sindhu
4 years ago, Sindhu was making small but impactful strides on the global circuit and admits watching Saina Nehwal win the bronze medal at London and is now excited to win a medal of her own in Brazil.
“The biggest dream I am chasing now is an Olympic medal. I remember watching Saina in London. Then I was ranked World No. 25. I always longed to be there and I am all excited to represent India in Rio,” she said.
“It is not just about dreaming and making a token appearance. The intention is to come back with a medal, though we are all aware that it is not going to be easy,” she added.
Asked about who she thinks would pose the biggest threat, Sindhu singled out Tzu Ying Tai of Chinese Taipei, who she felt had a game totally different to the rest.
“World No. 8 Tai Tzu Ying can be a dangerous proposition as her game is completely different from the others. But, again, you can’t choose your opponents,” she said.
