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Internet Desk : Star shuttler PV Sindhu is confident that India would perform well in the upcoming Sudirman Cup in world mixed championships that is scheduled to be held in Australia.
“I think we have a good chance, it’s a mixed team event so girls and boys both have to perform well. We are playing Indonesia and Denmark, so I hope we can win,” Sindhu said here last night after being conferred with the honorary life membership of the Cricket Club India.
India is currently ranked 9 in the World rankings and shares their preliminary group with Denmark and Indonesia.The preliminary stage starts on May 21st.
Hopes of the entire nation would lie on the shoulders of Sindhu who won the Olympic silver in Rio last year after ace shuttler Saina Nehwal withdrew herself from the tournament on account of family reasons.
The event being that of a mixed category and as a result only one woman could play, Sindhu said that the absence of Saina will not be a problem.
“Yes, Saina isn’t playing, but when it comes to one singles and doubles only one player is required, so that shouldn’t be any issue,” said the 21-year-old shuttler after having interacted with the CCI badminton-playing children at the club’s courts earlier.
Sindhu has slipped down from the world no. 2 ranking she achieved after winning the Indian Open, and is eager to move up the ladder.
“Currently I’m on fourth (rank) and I expect to see myself in top three by the end of the year.
“But I have already been in top two so I would definitely like to see myself as world number one, but before that I think you have to play well and if you do that ranking will automatically come,” she said.
On current no.1 Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese-Taipei whom she had beaten on way to the silver medal in Rio, Sindhu said, “We haven’t played much recently. The last was Rio and All England. So I haven’t faced her recently.”
“But she is winning a lot of matches and doing well for herself. But when it comes to me playing against her, I feel it’s going to be a good match,” she said.
Asked about the high points for her after winning the silver in Rio, the lanky shuttler said, “Winning China Open and Indian Open. I had always wanted to win a Super Series (event) and by fulfilling that I feel very happy and it gives me a lot of confidence.”
“After the Olympics I’ve seen a lot of change, kids picking up badminton and also then a lot of academies have come up.
“So, it’s a good sign and badminton as a sport is getting much more encouragement,” she said when asked about the changes she had seen in the shuttle game after her historic silver medal winning effort at Rio.
Earlier during her interaction with the younger lot of club players, Sindhu evoked admiration when she said that she trained daily for 7-8 hours.
She also said that players can learn a lot after losing a game by thinking back to the match and pinning down the errors they had made.
“When I lose a point I don’t think about it (at that stage) as thinking over it would make you lose the next 2-3 points,” Sindhu said.