Sindhu: Time to prepare for final now

Basel: After making it to her third successive BWF World Championship final, an elated P.V. Sindhu said she was happy with the result. But she was quick to point out that there was still a match left and she was preparing for it.

Speaking after the match, where the Rio silver medallist outclassed World No 3 Chen Yufei (21-7, 21-14), Sindhu said: “Yes, I am happy, but the final is still left. This game was good and I took lead from the very beginning and maintained it till the end. I know it is not going to be easy and so, I have to go back and prepare for it.”

Sindhu had earlier faced a tough challenge from Taiwanese shuttler Tai Tzu Ying in the quarter-finals and commenting on it, she said: “There should be a different mindset for different players as each player has her own mindset and style of play. As Yu Fei is also a very good player and it needed different mindset and preparation for her.”

In the past, the Chinese shuttlers had dominated the sport. However, Sindhu has broken that legacy as she has outsmarted them several times. When asked about it, Sindhu said: “I am happy to beat them. But as I said, every player has their own style of play and when it comes to Chinese shuttlers, one needs to be very much prepared. Yu Fei is also one of them, but as we regularly compete with each other in various tournaments, we know each other well.”

Sindhu will now take on the winner of the second women’s singles semi-final between former champions Ratchanok Intanon and Nozomi Okuhara in the final.

Talking about the summit clash, the 24-year-old Indian said: “Both are tough players to beat, but I hope and will prepare to deliver my best. I know it is not going to be easy.”