Describing the year that’s coming to an end as ”fantastic” for her personally, Rio Olympic Games silver medal-winning shuttler PV Sindhu said she was now targeting the No. 1 world ranking after reaching a career-best sixth at present, PTI reported.
“It has been a fantastic year for me, because winning a medal at the Olympics is a big achievement. It’s a dream come true. Also, I always had in mind that I wanted to win a Super Series title and that also was fulfilled [at the China Open],” Sindhu was quoted as saying.
“The aim is to become No. 1. I have achieved my career-best six, so am really very happy. I wish this can continue and I can continue improving further,” she added.
Sindhu, who lost in the semi-finals in the year-ending Dubai Super Series Finals, said that the silver medal she secured in the Rio Games has boosted her confidence and motivated her to perform consistently well.
“It’s the hard work that we put in the practice sessions that paid off. Things were different before and after the Olympics. The medal in Rio boosted my confidence a lot and that kept on motivating me all the time. That’s how I moved forward and I have been performing really well.
“The thought process has changed a lot after the Olympics, but as far as strategies are concerned, it depends from match to match and I have been working according to what the coach wants,” she added.
“I feel this is just the start for me and I need to continue working hard because the responsibility is high. Reaching this stage is okay, but maintaining this level is something different. So, that’s the challenge and I have to work a lot more,” said the 21-year-old.