Sindhu expects tough battles at Worlds and Asian Games
I know sometimes I have been losing in the finals. See there are always negatives and positives
new delhi — A title has eluded PV Sindhu this season despite three summit appearances but the Indian ace says she is undeterred by the heartbreak and will aim for a fresh start in the upcoming World Championship in China and the Asian Games in Indonesia.
Sindhu has been in impressive form ever since winning the silver at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Last year, she won three titles out of the six finals that she reached.
However, loss in the finals in World Championship, Hong Kong Open and Dubai Super Series Final earned her the choker’s tag.
This year too she has reached the summit clash at India Open, the Commonwealth Games and the Thailand Open but failed to cross the final hurdle, prompting many critics to once again describe her as the “perennial bridesmaid”.
“I know sometimes I have been losing in the finals. See there are always negatives and positives. When you lose in the quarterfinals or semifinals, you actually learn a lot from those mistakes. You play well but sometimes you can’t get through it,” Sindhu said.
“It doesn’t bother me, because coming to the finals is the next best thing to winning, I mean losing in the first and second round is much worse, reaching the finals means anything can happen,” added the Hyderabadi.
The 23-year-old youngster will be leaving with the Indian team on Saturday for the World Championship in Nanjing, China beginning on July 30. “I really want to do well in the World Championship. I have been preparing well. Also there is the Asian games, which I want to do well. It is going to be a tough draw in the world championship, so I can’t take it easy,” she said.
“It is not like that I can relax till the pre-quarterfinals. It is a draw of 64. I will play Fitriani in my first game. I have played her before. She is playing well and anything can happen.”
Her epic final against Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara at Glasgow last year went down as one of the greatest matches of all time clocking 110 minutes and Sindhu might have to upstage the defending champion as the two finalists are drawn to meet in the quarterfinals.
“I know everyone is talking about Nozomi and my match but I can’t afford to think so far ahead. Before that there is Sung Ji Hyun, who is not an easy player.”
Talking about Asian Games, Sindhu said: “Asian Games is going to be a tough one but I think the standard and quality will be like any other super series events. I mean apart from Carolina Marin, all the rest of the Asian players would be there, so it will be difficult.”
PV Sindhu