Sindhu speaks

Rio Games silver medallist P.V. Sindhu yesterday encouraged people from various walks of life to step out and speak on harassment while distancing herself from the comments of senior shuttler Jwala Gutta, who had alleged “mental harassment” by an unnamed coach.

“I appreciate that people have come forward and spoken about it. I respect it,” Sindhu said on the sidelines of a Vodafone event where the telecom giant launched a woman-specific service Sakhi.

On being probed if she was aware of any such incident in her sport, the Hyderabadi said: “Well I don’t know about seniors and coaches. As far as I am concerned, it’s been fine and good for me.”

Sindhu’s comments came a day after 2010 Commonwealth Games women’s doubles gold medallist Gutta, without taking any names, alleged mental harassment by a coach.

“Maybe I should talk about the mental harassment I had to go through. Since 2006, since this person became the chief... threw me out of national team in spite of me being a national champion. The latest was when I returned from Rio, I am out of national team again. One of the reasons I stopped playing!” she wrote.