New Delhi: Post the Rio Games, it has been “very busy” but no less than a “dream” for Olympic silver medallist P.V. Sindhu. It was a tight schedule of a different sort - not with her training but attending functions, receiving honours and giving interviews.
Her mother Vijaya even said Sindhu hardly had time to “eat at home” since her return from Rio. “It’s been a hectic last few days. But she deserved all of it. She is very happy,” Vijaya told this paper on the sidelines of yet another event here on Tuesday.
But Sindhu, whose eyes looked as tired as those of coach Pullela Gopichand sitting alongside, couldn’t stop smiling while obliging interviewers patiently.
The 21-year-old, accompanied by her parents and sister Divya, said she was “over the moon”. “After the Olympics, days have been good in a different way. Things have changed. This was my first Olympics and I didn’t think of winning a medal. I just thought I have to give my best and played my game,” said Sindhu, a day after receiving the Khel Ratna.
“Winning a medal was a dream and I am still celebrating it. I am enjoying every moment.” The star shuttler, who overcame inconsistency to turn in a power-packed show at Rio, said she had “sleepless nights” ahead of her pre-quarterfinals and quarter-finals matches in Rio.
“In Rio, I evaluated my matches. Normally, I and Gopi Sir discuss my game after every match. Before the matches against Tai Tzu-ying and Wang Yihan, I even got up in the middle of the night thinking about how should I play this time. I have played them many times and have lost after leading against them,” she revealed, adding that the the semifinal win over Nozomi Okuhara was crucial.
“Overall, Rio was an amazing experience. Each and every match was memorable — right from the first match with Michelle Li to playing against the top-ranked players.”
Yet again crediting coach Gopichand and her parents for all the sacrifices and hard work, Sindhu said her success was a result of teamwork.
“The last two months ahead of Olympics, we didn’t have tournaments. So, Gopi Sir and my entire team planned and worked accordingly. Each and every day was important, the focus was on winning an Olympic medal,” she added.
Though Sindhu, a two-time World Championships bronze medallist, is keen to resume training soon with Super Series events and next year’s All England Championship in mind now, her father Ramana felt she should “rest for some time” before chasing further dreams.
