I have got a good draw but it’s not going to be easy: Sindhu

New Delhi, July 9

A strong medal contender at the Tokyo Games, ace Indian shuttler PV Sindhu today admitted that she has got a favourable draw but insisted she has to be on top of her game since no match will be easy at the Olympics level.

Reigning world champion and Rio Games silver medallist Sindhu has been drawn with Hong Kong’s Cheung Ngan Yi (ranked 34th) and Israel’s Ksenia Polikarpova (ranked 58th) in Group J of the women’s singles event.

“It’s a good draw in the group stage. Hong Kong girl plays well and it’s going to be a good match,” Sindhu, who is world No. 7, said. “Everybody is going to be in top form, I hope I do well. Every match is important so I will take it match by match. This is Olympics and it is not going to be easy, each point is very important,” added the sixth seed.

Sindhu has an all-win record against her group stage opponents Ngan Yi and Polikarpova.

In men’s singles, world No. 15 B Sai Praneeth has been placed in Group D alongside world No. 29 Mark Caljouw of the Netherlands and world No. 47 Israeli shuttler Misha Zilberman. “It’s a mixed draw, not so tough and not so good. I have to be 100 per cent to win all matches and it will be a good match for me,” World Championships bronze medallist Praneeth said.

World No. 10 men’s doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, however, is expected to face a stiff challenge. They have been placed in the Group A alongside the top-seeded and world No. 1 Indonesian duo of Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo and Marcus Fernaldi Gideon, and world No. 3 Chinese Taipei pair of Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin. — PTI