I should have controlled mistakes in defence: Sindhu

PV Sindhu has no regrets regarding her preparations for the Games as she did everything she could to be in the best shape. However, she admitted that her defense let her down in the pre-quarterfinal against China’s He Bing Jiao. In the 56-minute match, Sindhu ran the Chinese world number 9 close in the first game, but unforced errors meant that Bing Jiao won 21-19, 21-14. Sindhu even dictated a few points but had no answer to Bing Jiao’s superior attack. Reflecting upon the reason for her defeat, Sindhu said, “I should have controlled a little bit of mistakes on my defense.” Sindhu had a training camp in Germany and also joined forces with mentor Prakash Padukone for better preparation. She stated, “Everybody worked hard, so we’ve done whatever we could. Rest is destiny.

I don’t regret it.” Sindhu highlighted the importance of fighting for each point, saying, “I kept fighting still because you never know anything can happen. Both of us were fighting for each point because until the end you can’t expect. It’s not easy win or easy points, you can’t think that you have finished the game.” Bing Jiao’s smashes and soft drops had Sindhu scurrying on both sides of the court. However, when Sindhu attacked, the Chinese defended well.

Sindhu explained, “She has that jump smash. Even my smashes, I think, which were mid-court, they were just going out when she was challenging. I should have hit them inside and I should have got those points where I’ve made those unforced errors.” Sindhu lamented not being able to convert the first game to a win from the 19-19 position, saying, “It’s sad that I couldn’t convert it to win, especially in the first game because it was 19 all at some point.

I think if it would have been the other way, especially when I challenged it. If I would have won the first set, maybe it would have been different. But I think it was… I mean, there were rallies and it was going on well, but only one can win.” When asked about playing in the next Olympics in the USA, Sindhu was non-committal, stating, “It’s still four years away. So for me, right now, I just go back and rest for a bit, maybe just take some break and then come back and let’s see what it is because four years is a very, very long time.

” Sindhu reflected on her journey, saying, “It’s sad. The result, I couldn’t get what I expected, but it’s a journey, isn’t it? It’s been a wonderful journey so far. There were ups and downs, and I came back from an injury, and everything was going on well. You can’t expect easy wins or picking the form at the right time.

Sometimes it might not be your day. We all really worked hard.” In the second game, Sindhu tried to unsettle Bing Jiao with smashes, but her opponent was picking up all those low shots. Reflecting on the game, Sindhu said, “Her defense was really good today.

She was taking everything and I had to be even more patient. Sometimes I was changing and I was getting points. I was dictating and I was getting a few points, but I think it was not enough today.”