She had just won the Korea Open super series title and finished with the prize distribution ceremony. And this time she was holding the gold medal in her hands. Elated and exhausted,
PV Sindhu, India’s newest sporting superstar, was both candid and passionate as she outlined her goals in a freewheeling conversation.
Excerpts:
Many like us in the media billed it as a revenge match? Do such things really matter to sportspeople? Did you see this as a revenge match against Okuhara?
[Laughing] See we don’t treat it as revenge or anything like that. But yes the defeat in the world championship final was hurting. I did feel disappointed and upset. I wanted to win and win badly. To get another opportunity at another final against the same opponent was quite extraordinary. And like anyone else I wanted to win. In that sense it was sweet revenge of sorts. [Laughs again.]
Each of us who watched the match on television could sense you were exhausted. Can you describe the last few moments. You tried to dig deep and push yourself, to get out that last little reserve of fuel to win.
Yes it was another very long match. Very similar to the world championship final. There were really long rallies and it was a question of fitness and temperament. Both of us were pushing each other. We knew it was a question of the last one standing. I would say the point at 18-16 was the clincher. It was a really long rally and the fact that I won that point I got a 3-point advantage. From there you don’t lose. Had it been 17-18 anything could have happened. If you see both of us collapsed at the end of that rally. It was tough. Very tough. But that’s sport for you. It tests you. Pushes you hard. And that’s why you play sport.
You dedicated the victory to the people of India.
Yes I have. The kind of support I receive from people back home and my fans is overwhelming. In the aftermath of the world championships everyone I met wished me luck and said I did well. I knew they were hurt as much as I was. They felt my pain and shared my frustration. To be able to do it for them has given me a lot of satisfaction. They help make the sport what it is and I am grateful for all the support and affection I receive from people in India.
So did you celebrate with ice cream like you usually do?
No. No ice cream this time round. I am playing the Japan open and can’t indulge myself at the moment. But post Japan for sure.
Sindhu, post Rio, things have changed dramatically for you. In fact, anything I say to describe this change will seem an understatement of sorts. But have you changed as a person? Take me backstage and tell me how things have changed?
Life has indeed changed since Rio. But I haven’t. There are endorsements, media engagements, sponsor commitments and a lot of other things which weren’t there before Rio. It is a very different life. I can’t just go out anymore and do things like I used to do. But that’s fine you know. I am aware that people love me because I have done them proud. I play badminton and that’s my identity. So all I want to do is keep playing well, winning more and more for my country. Rest will take care of itself.
Massive year coming up for all of you. There’s the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games besides All England, World Championships and the super series. How do you look at 2018?
Yes there is no doubt it is a very big year. Whenever there is a multi-discipline event, it is a big thing. You are representing your country and nothing can be bigger for a sportsperson. And then there is the world championships. We need to be well prepared. Fit and peak at the right time. You need preparation time. Say for example, before Rio, Gopi sir and I trained for 3 months with single-minded focus. For a world championship, you need a month’s training at least. If you keep playing back to back, it won’t work. We need to balance our schedule and at the same time be consistent in tournaments that we play. That’s the challenge in any sport.
You have been amazingly consistent of late. Anything that you are doing that we don’t know about?
[Laughing] Maybe I know my game better. I can play big points better and I can play long and hard. Earlier if I fell behind I would give up. But it is different now. I have the confidence to feel I can come back in any match from any position and can win. Rio and the performances since have given me that confidence. Maybe that’s what has made me more consistent.
You are just 22 and you are already a super icon. Do you feel overawed?
No I don’t. You want to be loved and appreciated. You want to earn money and be famous. But you should also know that the secret is to work hard. As long as I do that and remain grounded there is no reason to feel overawed or feel any pressure.
— The author is a sports journalist and sports scholar based in India
