Mumbai, May 6: Shuttler PV Sindhu stated here Friday that an Olympic medal, if she gets one, will be a far greater achievement than her two World Championships bronze medals.
“Olympics is the ultimate for any sportsperson… far more important than any other tournament. So to be on the podium there is definitely the dream goal for any one, including me,” she told reporters during a media interaction here. “But above all, I am very excited as it is my first Olympics… I am determined to do well, but more than anything happy to be a part of it,” she added.
The Hyderabadi shuttler was quick to point out that she will only be able to judge the pressures associated with the Olympics only after she steps on to the court for the first time in Rio. “Look as a player, every match we play, there will be pressure. I don’t think, the Olympics will be any different and there wouldn’t be any extra pressure. But all that I can only say after I play my first match,” the World No. 10 pointed out.
“It’s great that seven players have been selected for the Olympics. It is the first time for the men’s doubles team (Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy) as well as for Kidambi (Srikanth). I bet all of them are excited too,” added Sindhu.
With the Games fast approaching, planning has been done so that Sindhu and the others would be free to concentrate on training intensely for one month just prior to the mega event.
“Only a few months are left (for the Games) and there are some tournaments left to play. We need to be prepared for them as well as Rio. The next important events (for Indian shuttlers) are the Thomas and Uber Cups (finals, May 15-22 in China).
“We will be playing in Indonesia and Australia and then we will be having one month training. We are going to put the full effort for the Rio Olympics. The only thing that we need to be careful about is that we don’t pick up injuries,” stated the close-to six foot shuttler.
The Indian shuttler stated that among the top 20 players in women’s singles Thailand’s former World Champion Ratchanok Intanon and Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying will be particularly difficult for her.
“There is very little difference between the top 20 players. As of now Ratchanok, is really challenging and doing well. I have recently played with her. And also Tai, she has also been playing well,” pointed out Sindhu. PTI
