World Championships final was not in my mind, says Sindhu

Seoul, September 17

PV Sindhu said the heartbreaking World Championships final loss was not on her mind when she was plotting the downfall of Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara en-route her Korea Open title.

“I had lost to her after leading 19-17 in the World Championships but I did not keep that in my mind even though there were long rallies like the last match. I kept telling myself ‘next point is important’. I had to control the shuttle very much, so there was nothing in my mind,” Sindhu said after being asked if the epic final was on her mind.

Talking about the final, Sindhu said: “Each point was very exhausting. In the first game, we were equal at 20-20 and I changed the course and won the game. In the second game, all my shots were going out, I could not control the shuttle. It was a huge lead even if I would have tried, so I lost easy. In the third game, each and every point was important. I was leading at 11 points but she came back with big rallies like the World Championships. Both of us were not ready to leave anything.”

Asked if she would play rather someone else in the finals, Sindhu said: “It is nothing like that, anybody is fine. Earlier, everybody used to say it would be Carolina Marin but now they are saying it would be Okuhara again in Japan Super Series but I guess you have to play one or the other and you have to beat them to win.” 

Chief National coach Pullela Gopichand said Sindhu worked on her attacking game ahead of the Korea Open. “We prepared a bit on the attacking side, not that we had a great amount of time but we tried to cover the mistakes she committed at Glasgow in whatever time we had,” he said. — PTI

"I think there is Japan next week which is a Premier Super Series, there is Denmark, France, China and Hong Kong. It is important that we focus on one at a time before the yearender at Dubai final" — P Gopichand, on PV Sindhu’s packed schedule

TWEETS : 

WELL DONE 

You tried, you failed, you believed and in the end you are an inspiration for the nation! A victory like none other

Sachin Tendulkar

What a brilliant game by PV Sindhu! Congrats on winning Korea Super Series! India is proud of you! May the victories never stop coming!

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore

She believed she could, so she did. Congrats PV Sindhu, first Indian to win Korea Super Series. India is proud of you

Vijender Singh

Sindhu vs Okuhara is turning out to be one of the great sporting rivalries. Many congrats to PV Sindhu for an exceptional victory in the finals

VVS LAXMAN

Congratulations to PV Sindhu. India is immensely proud of her accomplishment

PMO