P. V. Sindhu

Life has changed both on and off the court after the Rio Olympics medal. I have a lot of confidence on the court now and feel anything is possible. I also feel that I have improved my game. Off the court, I do get recognised more now.

Every time I go on to the court, people expect me to get a medal. It is tough, and I can't win always, but I still have to go out there and give my best.

I want to beat everyone I'm playing against.

I don't fear anyone. I just concentrate on giving my best.

My long-term goal is to become the world number one player.

Whoever plays well on a given day, that player wins.

Be it 'Mary Kom,' 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag,' or 'Dangal,' each one was inspiring in its own way. But my favourite is 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.'

I consider the All England as like any normal super series tournament.

The key is not being overconfident. You should not think that because I'm a top-ranked player, I will win this game. You have to be focused.

Every tournament is important for me.

I think each player has a different style of play, and every match is different.

When you lose in the quarterfinals or semifinals, you actually learn a lot from those mistakes.

Each tournament is different.

We can't play if we are ill or not completely fit.

Each tournament is equally important.

Ups and downs will be happening; coming to the final and losing by a point or so should not matter.

Women's badminton has become so competitive.

It was important for me to get a super series title.

I am thankful to my parents. They have done many sacrifices.

A small cold and cough can actually stop you from going where you are.

I was lucky to get good coaches and infrastructure that I needed. To become a champion, it is not just a few months' practice: it takes years to make a champion.

I was at the Gopichand Academy since I was 10.

Definitely, the aim is to become No.1.

I am aggressive only on court.

You have to keep working all the time. How much you learn, there is always room for learning; you will have to keep improving all the time.

I think you can never be a complete player.

We need to be always prepared for every match.

Life has changed after Rio. Winning a silver medal was a huge moment for me. It has come with a lot of responsibilities.

What hurts most is whenever I am leading, and then I lose the match, it is disappointing, and there are so many such matches.

I am really lucky that I got such good coaches and everything I wanted, right from the infrastructure to proper coaching.

There are many defining moments in my journey.

I have worked really hard since the age of eight, so each phase of my life is equally important.

I will keep working on different aspects of my games. It's not so easy, and I need to work on every stroke.

Since I'm the youngest in the family, I sulk when my parents deny me something, although I come around when they explain why it was denied.

I just can't do without music.

I love to experiment with my looks and dresses on and off the court because I love to turn out very well. But, I must add here that just good-looking athletes can't do anything for their sport.

I should not think that I have to win every match and what others will think; that will create extra pressure. I just have to give best on court.

It is hard to lose for everybody.

When you lose, you keep thinking, 'I could have done things differently,' but at that moment, you can't do anything, so it is important to let go.

My coaches have always been on my side, motivating me to try harder and harder every day, which is not easy.

It is never the case that I will push myself more for the World Championships and play differently in a Super Series or vice-versa.

Previously, people were like, 'She might win the tournament,' but now it's like, 'She should win the tournament.'

The competition is tough at the international level. There are very good players.

It is very important to be confident and strong even if you lose, because you know there are tournaments coming up next, and you have to be prepared for it.

Sometimes you don't play up to the mark, and you win even then.

Sometimes it does upset you when you lose in the finals, or even in a quarterfinal or semifinal, especially when you think, 'Maybe I could have played better,' or even if you gave your 100 percent, and even then, you lose.

Tennis, at times, I follow, but not much.

While I am training, I don't go out for events, so rest days, in a way, take away that time. Apart from that, I just stay at home and rest, maybe relax at home and spend time with family.

Most of the times, when I actually have rest time, I am travelling.

There were many struggles, but my parents supported me a lot. Whenever I wanted anything, wherever I wanted to go, practice session etc., they were there for me.