A peek into the life of ace shuttler P V Sindhu
P V Sindhu. (Photo: PTI)
Hyderabad: Life can be a piece of cake for your typical 19-year-old, but then, P.V. Sindhu is not typically 19. The badminton wunderkind from Hyderabad recently made history with her second consecutive bronze medal at the World Badminton Championships in Denmark and barely a week later, she’s hard at work trying to better her feat at the Asian Games.
In a freewheeling chat, Sindhu lets DC peek behind the curtains for a glimpse of what makes her the champion she is today.
“My day begins at 4.30 am, so I have to wake up at 3.45 am,” says Sindhu, adding that she goes to bed at 9.30 pm. “I rarely get eight hours at night, but I sleep during the day so I make do,” she says.
Making do. That is the story of her young life so far. Being a high-profile shuttler, life’s not easy for Sindhu. Every other 19-year-old is either busy with studies or out having a good time with friends, while Sindhu sweats it out at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy. But with a good-natured shrug, Sindhu says it’s all a part of being a sportsperson.
“I wouldn’t say I’m missing out on life as a teenager because, as far as I can remember, this (badminton) has been my life. I really enjoy playing the sport and I do get to go out and blow off steam sometimes with family or friends from the academy.”
Studies are another aspect of her life that Sindhu has to expertly juggle. A B.Com final year student at St Ann’s Degree College for Women at Mehdipatnam, Sindhu sets aside her racquet for the pen mere days before the exams. Sometimes, she doesn’t even have the luxury of a few days.
“I go to college, meet the principal or lecturers and get notes around 15 days before the exams. Sometimes, I don’t even have that time. In my second year, I had to miss a couple of papers because I was playing at the Indian Open, and I had to sit for the exam the day after the match,” she recalls.
The pressure of playing with an exam looming large must be high indeed, then. “Not really,” says Sindhu with a laugh. “If I win my match, I advance to the next round and I wouldn’t have to write. So that’s an added incentive to winning,” she jokes.
Till one-and-a-half years ago, Sindhu and her parents, former volleyball players Vijaya and Ramana used to live in the city. Life got a little easier for the young shuttler once the family relocated to Gachibowli, closer to the academy. Not so much for her parents, who make willing sacrifices.
“My parents have given up so much so I can play badminton. My father has to commute 27 kilometer to and from the office every day. But he does it without complaint. I get so much support from them,” Sindhu adds.
With her spectacular rise over the last couple of seasons, Sindhu has been enjoying being the centre of attention. “When I was younger, I used to see my seniors like Saina (Nehwal) get praise and recognition for her exploits. I’m really happy I’m having my turn in the limelight. I really enjoy it and am thankful for it. It feels so special when people recognise me at malls and greet me or even take photographs with me.”
( Source : dc )
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