“Olympics is a different kind of challenge” - PV Sindhu eyes a hat-trick of Olympic medals in Paris 2024
Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu is all set to make it a hat-trick of podium finishes when she takes on the field at the Paris Olympics 2024. With her silver medal at Rio 2016, she became the first Indian to win a badminton silver. Sindhu added icing on the cake in the following Summer Games in Tokyo with a bronze medal to become the first Indian woman to claim two Olympic medals.
Ranked 12th currently in women’s singles, Sindhu has her eyes set on a third consecutive medal. She hasn’t had a great year so far, with the majority of the finishes coming before the semi-finals. Her best performance in 2024 has been a runner-up finish in Malaysia Masters in May, where she lost to China’s ZY Wang in the final.
However, she is now prepared for the Paris Olympics 2024, learning from her recent setbacks. In a media interaction arranged by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in association with the Badminton Association of India (BAI) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Sindhu shed light on her preparations for the Olympic Games in Paris.
“You need to be smart and really work hard. I feel like (I’m) getting there. (I am) not overconfident, but definitely wiser and smarter and hoping to win another medal. It is not impossible to win my third medal in the Olympics. I have learnt a lot from my mistakes in the recent past. I have to give my 100 percent. Each and every game is crucial, and I don’t want to focus only on winning a medal. I will have to play at my best for sure,” said PV Sindhu.
The 28-year-old noted that competing at the Olympics is a different kind of challenge compared to other events. A player needs to be at his best at every minute of the competition.
“I have learnt to be a lot more patient, especially from the Asian circuit before this Olympics. There would be no more short-duration matches, no more expectation of easy points, and no match being considered over, despite having a big lead, till the match is actually won. Olympics is a different kind of challenge, though it gives you more time to prepare, unlike other major Super Series events,” added Sindhu.
“My focus will be consistency” - PV Sindhu on her preparations for the Paris Olympics 2024
PV Sindhu is currently training for the Paris Olympics 2024 at the Hermann-Neuberger Sportschule in Saarbrucken, Germany. She shed light on the things to focus on in order to win matches.
“I am conscious of the fact that I can do much better. It is not that I am not able to finish off matches. Yes, you lose matches despite what looks like winning leads, and sometimes, you end up winning despite trailing. So, my focus will be consistency,” Sindhu stated.
PV Sindhu, who trains under Indian legend and former World No. 1 Prakash Padukone, also highlighted how her training regime has been.
“He wants to cut down on unforced errors, keep the shuttle in the court and play freely. We have been working on all the strokes. It is important to be perfect in every aspect of the game. You never know how it is going to be on a given day,” concluded PV Sindhu.