Inside the mind of a champion: What makes PV Sindhu the golden girl of Indian badminton

On Monday, PV Sindhu added yet another golden feather to her illustrious hat by winning the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Birmingham in the women’s singles category. Having won the bronze in 2014 and silver in 2018, Sindhu is delighted to win her first gold medal at CWG. “This win feels special because I’ve been waiting for this medal for a long time.I’m super happy to have finally done it. From day one, the aim was to play at a high tempo and be confident that I can do it,” the World No 7, told TOI after the game.
Indeed, it was Sindhu’s desire to win that shone through in the final that saw her playing with a heavily strapped ankle. As the nation hails PV Sindhu, Hyderabad Times decodes the mind of the champion to understand what makes her the undisputed queen of Indian badminton.
‘I let the pain of losing motivate me to do even better and reach greater heights’
It has been a year full of highs and lows for the two-time Olympic medalist. Earlier this year, Sindhu looked like a pale shadow of herself after disappointing second round losses at marquee tournaments like the German Open and All England Championships. But the ace shuttler bounced back quickly by winning the Swiss Open title in March. It was followed by bronze medal finishes at the Korean Open and Badminton Asia Championships in Thailand and a thumping win at the Singapore Open in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Games. Rebounding like she never lost and bouncing back stronger each time seems to be her secret. But how does she do it, we asked her, just as she prepped to leave for the CWG. “By not letting my emotions get the better of me,” she shot back. “After a loss, it’s only natural to feel low. During such situations, it’s important to not let your emotions get the better of you. I let the pain of losing motivate me to do even better and reach greater heights. I make sure I don’t get carried away either by success or failure. I just keep faith in my process and look to get better each day,” she said, giving us an insight into how she deals with the fluctuating fortunes in sport.

‘Winning and losing are a part of life. How it affects you depends on how you take it’
When Sindhu had started the year on a disappointing note by losing in the All England Championships, her only goal was to ensure she “didn’t lose focus of the goal”. Admittedly, staying in the present and focusing on her mental health is what helps her do that. “I make a conscious effort not to let the result of a match affect my mental state. I meditate regularly, and that helps me be calm, focused and stay in the present. Meditation also helps me stay focused on my goal and come back stronger than before,” she said, when asked to take us through her “bounce back” mantra. “That, and also, not paying too much attention to what people say – both good and bad. See, winning and losing are a part of life. How it affects you depends on how you take it. I don’t get carried away by what people say on social media. Everybody has an opinion and will have something to say, but that shouldn’t affect your mind or stop you from doing anything you want,” she explains.
Keeping things simple is a great way to keep your perspective intact when riding through the vagaries that come with being an elite athlete. An unwavering love for the sport and belief in herself sees her through, Sindhu believes: “You have to enjoy what you do. I’m sure everybody has their lows and highs. But you have to believe in yourself no matter what and have the hope that you can do better and keep working hard. That is more important when you’re feeling low. You have to look after yourself. I keep telling myself, ‘Yes, I can do it’. It’s hard to stay positive all the time — that’s not possible. Sometimes, there are days when there is some negativity, and you don’t feel so good. How you respond to such situations ultimately defines you as a person.”

‘I just step onto the court with the intention of giving my 100%. Once you do that nothing else matters’
Unlike many of her peers, Sindhu enters tournaments as one of the favourites to win it. From the very beginning of her career, the shuttler has been carrying the weight of expectations from the entire nation whenever she steps out on the court. Does it ever bog her down? “Pressure is a part of every sports person’s life, and it’s no different for me. But whenever I step onto the court, I shut out the outside noise and just focus on my game. If you start thinking about what people will say about your game, then it will add extra pressure. So, I just step onto the court with the intention of giving my 100% every time and try to do my best. Once you do that, nothing else matters,” she said.
Off the court though, she likes “everything that normal girls like to do”. And these normal things help in recharging her batteries away from the spotlight. “I love dressing up, putting on makeup and going for dinners with my family, watching movies… Sometimes, there are days when I just stay home, have ice cream, some food that I like and watch a movie. It’s important to have a life outside of your profession. Self-care can give a big energy boost.”
With a CWG gold in her kitty, Sindhu is looking forward to what’s next – the World Championships. But first, she will take a breather. “I’m going to take a break, savour this win, so I can come back stronger.” Attagirl!