Avoidable mistakes proved costly, says Sindhu

P.V. Sindhu..symbol of success

Two-time World championship bronze medallist P.V. Sindhu says it is not always easy to give 100 per cent in every game.

“On some days you tend to be off-colour. That’s what happened against Carolina Marin in the World championship semifinal. I made quite a few avoidable mistakes,” she said here on Tuesday.

“I say this knowing fully well that to be a world champion, you have to maintain a very high level of consistency,” said Sindhu.

“Two gruelling matches in the pre-quarterfinal and quarterfinal denied me enough time to recover. But, that cannot be an excuse for the disappointing defeat.

“This is the kind of schedule we have been used to in most major events. But, there are areas I am going to focus on and will try my best in the next big events,” said the 19-year-old shuttler.

When asked about pressure, Sindhu said: “definitely there was that intense desire to improve upon my last year’s bronze. Maybe, I will be a much better player next time around.”

Chief National coach Pullela Gopi Chand said he was a bit disappointed with Sindhu’s loss after the fabulous win against reigning All England champion Wang Shixian.

“Yes, I was disappointed at Sindhu not playing the way I would have wanted her to. But we must remember that Marin played an exceptional game on that day and the fact that she went on to become the champion shows her growing stature and the kind of form she was in,” he said.

No debate on Saina’s decision

Referring to Saina Nehwal’s decision to train with Vimal Kumar, a perturbed and grim-looking Gopi Chand preferred not to engage in any debate on the subject. “I would leave it till the Asian Games.”

“I was told about her decision only on arrival here,” he said when asked whether he was in the know of things.

Gopi Chand took pains to explain that players training at different centres for Majors like the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games was nothing new.

“We always give them the freedom to train anywhere they want to as has been the case in the past,” he added.

Meanwhile, Telangana Badminton Association vice-president V. Chamundeswarnath announced that 2014 Commonwealth Games men’s singles gold medallist P. Kashyap would be presented a car on September 6 and some of the other medallists would also be felicitated.