Having exacted revenge from Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand, World No 6, for her Indonesia Open loss, PV Sindhu is happy for the good patch of form she’s struck. The 41-minute win for 21-15, 21-15 helped her set up a quarter matchup with World No 1 An Se-young in quarters of the China Masters, their 8th meeting.
She’s riding a tiny ripple of confidence, and spoke to BWF about the straight sets win, the drifty conditions, and her working equation with Indonesian coach, Irwansyah.
Excerpts:
On beating World No 6 Chochuwong
PV Sindhu: I think I’m happy for the win and I think for me it was very important from the beginning to actually be alert and give my 100% and not give easy mistakes because she’s a top player. I think I played with her earlier also at the Indonesian Open (June) so I think it was, that time also it was a hard match. So I won the first and then lost the second and third (22-20, 10-21, 18-21). So I think from the beginning, after winning the first set, I was much more alert and the the points were going equal – equal. It was very important for me to actually stay close to her and make sure every point counts. So I think I’m happy that I’m on the winning side and I gave my best. So yeah, I think I have to prepare for tomorrow now.
On winning in straight sets
PV Sindhu: I think, of course, it is very important to boost your confidence. At the same time, you also have to keep in mind that sometimes the court might not be really according to you, sometimes it might be faster, sometimes it might be a bit slow. But I think it’s good that if you finish off, if you win the first set, it’s good that you finish off in two sets. I mean, if you lose the first, obviously you would want to take it to the third. But I think straight wins definitely always gives you that confidence. But I think you also have to be prepared for long matches, irrespective of the games, whoever won the first game or the second game, you have to be prepared for the longer matches and make sure that you’re quick on your feet every single time.
On Thursday, Sindhu made the China Masters quarters, her third of the year with a straight sets win. (Badminton Photo)
On the windy court conditions
PV Sindhu: Yeah, it’s always there, you know, it’s always there. But every tournament there is that wind. But it’s important that you can control (the shuttle). I mean, there is wind. I will not say it is not there. But sometimes it’s very, very hard to control because at times, if you would have seen a couple of people might lose 21-5 and you go that side and they lose 21-5.
On court drift restricting the full game
PV Sindhu: With the drift, I think the game, the athlete’s game, the complete game is not out there when there’s drift, like you actually can’t put your full game out there. But I think it would be good that if there’s equal sides, the same way. I understand the spectators as well. But, if they can make sure that, it’s equally distributed, I think that would be a good thing. And a lot more actual game would actually come out there. If it can be distributed accordingly, then it will be okay.
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On coach Irwansyah saying she is the most dedicated player he’s ever worked with and being amazed at her commitment
PV Sindhu: Yeah, I mean, it’s very good. I’m thankful to him and I know he’s a very good coach. Back then, he was an Indonesian men’s coach as well. Initially, when we started, obviously, as a coach and an athlete, it will definitely take that time to actually coordinate and know what needs to be done and what are the mistakes I’m doing, what needs to be change. But things are working now and definitely both are working harder and even as a coach, I think he is giving his best efforts. And as an athlete, I think when the coach is doing and giving his 100% efforts, I think as an athlete, it’s my duty also.
So it’s going on well. Yeah, there have been some ups and downs in the tournaments where I couldn’t play well. But I think it always takes that time to actually know what needs to be done and it is a process.
It is not like immediate, as soon as a coach comes and we get results, but it is a process. And I hope it will work and it is definitely working. So I hope it will work much more.
