Sindhu vows to punch higher

For long, she’s been regarded the natural successor to the throne on which Saina Nehwal currently has a tenuous hold.

But with her bronze medal- winning effort at the World Championships last week, young P. V. Sindhu has taken giant strides towards making the crown her own.

Sindhu, with a second consecutive Worlds bronze, had become India’s first shuttler to win multiple medals at the event, and that too less than a month after claiming bronze at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. And the 19- yearold Hyderabadi was deservedly proud of her achievement, when she returned home on Tuesday.

“I’m very happy with the bronze,” Sindhu said, flashing her 1,000- watt smile at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy. “It is a very big tournament, and I’m glad I won bronze two years in a row. I will do better next year.”

Chief

national coach

Carolina ( Marin) played really well. I committed a few simple errors. We can’t put in 100 per cent every single time. As well as we play, it’s not as if the other players are any less. I need to make note of and rectify the mistakes I made.

— P. V. SINDHU

Gopichand was all praise for his young ward.

“It was a fantastic effort. It was disappointing that she lost in the semi- finals, but she had already notched up backto- back wins against top players. Winning two medals at the Worlds is unprecedented. She lost to the eventual world champion ( Carolina Marin of Spain), which is small consolation, but I’m very proud of her,” Gopi said.

Sindhu said she was slightly disappointed that she didn’t go on to win silver or gold, but is determined to not let that bog her down.

“Carolina played really well. I committed a few simple errors. We can’t put in 100 per cent in every single match. As well as we play, it’s not as if the other players are any less. What I should do is make note of the mistakes I made and rectify them,” Sindhu said.

Gopi said: “She is only 19, and she has already done well in several big tournaments. There are areas she can work on, and that will be our focus ahead of the Asian Games.”