India is in no way less than any other badminton powerhouse, says PV Sindhu

05/17/2018

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PV Sindhu believes that badminton as a sport has garnered a lot of popularity throughout India and is not just confined to a few individuals. While admitting that there was a rivalry between her and Saina Nehwal, Sindhu was quick to point out that the competition helps both players perform better.

PV Sindhu bagged silver at the Commonwealth Games in Australia after conceding the gold to Saina Nehwal in the final on Gold Coast. Following the CWG, the Indian shuttlers have been attending multiple felicitation ceremonies. Even though the entire badminton contingent performed admirably, the most-anticipated moment in the CWG was the all-Indian women's singles badminton final between Saina and Sindhu. The younger Indian shuttler expressed her disappointment on losing but believes that such losses are the stepping stones to her successful comeback in the future.

“I think it’s part of the game. Winning and losing are part of life. The result can’t always go in your favour. I gave it my all but she (Saina) played well and it was her day. The important thing is that I have learnt a lot from my mistakes and now I have to come back stronger,” says Sindhu.

When asked whether Indian fans could expect a repeat of the match at the Olympics, Sindhu replied, “Why not? But there is a lot of time for that. 2020 is still some time away. Before that, we have a lot of tournaments coming up and this year has already been hectic. So, it’s about keeping ourselves fit and keep moving forward."

“Of course, the rivalry is there. When we both play in a tournament, people expect Saina and I will face each other in the final, which is what happened at Gold Coast. I think the rivalry is good for the sport as it spurs both of us to perform better. On court, only one can win but it’s about how hard you play.”

“We are friends, off court,” she replies, “I mean, she has different timings for her training sessions and I have different timings for mine. So, we don’t get to interact or hang out a lot.”

Besides Sindhu, Saina, and Kidambi Srikanth, India witnessed its first gold in the mixed team events at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Sindhu credited the success to the hard work of the players and the constant guidance and support from the coaches and administration, equally.

“It’s the first time we bagged the gold (in mixed team event) and it feels good that we have all done so well. We are extremely happy about it. It is largely because of the players and the coaches that we have been able to achieve this, but credit also goes to the Badminton Association of India. Not only for their support but also for the rewards that they have showered us with, after the games. These things motivate us,” Sindhu explained.

Sindhu is positive that badminton in India has emerged to become a major sport in the country and many of the kids and youth have taken up the game in recent years. The 22-year-old believes that India is on the path to becoming a world superpower in badminton. The world number 3 is glad that the interest to pick up the racket has spread throughout the country and more than just a few individuals, the entire country is adapting to the badminton culture.

“If you see kids nowadays, many of them are taking up badminton as a career option. Particularly after the Olympics (the Rio Olympics where Sindhu won a silver), many of them picked up the racket with the intention of becoming professionals. And definitely, as a sport, badminton is doing really well,” she concluded.

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