KOLKATA: Carrying a billion hopes and expectations, ace Indian shuttler PV Sindhu is all charged up for her Tokyo expedition as she sets sights on her second Olympic medal after finishing runners-up at the Rio Games in 2016.
"Despite the uncertain times, which everyone across the globe is facing, the Olympics are here and I am very excited. Since it was postponed, I have been training hard for the event. Expectations and responsibilities are always there. I just hope with everyone's love and support I will be able to come back with a medal," said Sindhu during a promotional event.
The ongoing global pandemic which forced the Olympics to be postponed, still remains a cause of concern. But for Sindhu the covid-induced break was a blessing in disguise.
"I know the pandemic has impacted everybody in some way or the other. But I tried to focus on the positives. In normal times, we don't get so much time as we have back-to-back tournaments. But as many international events got cancelled, I actually got the time to learn more and focus on my technical skills. The pandemic didn't hamper my preparations for the Olympics because I feel I got enough time, which we never used to get when things were normal," said the 2016 silver-medallist.
Fans are an integral part of every sporting event, but with the Covid-19 pandemic refusing to recede, the Tokyo Olympic oraganisers were forced to put a bar on the spectators for the prestigious quadrennial event. India's top female shuttler expressed her disappointment for the absence of fans in the stadium but seemed okay with the new normal set-up.
"Things will definitely be different this time around without the crowd, but we all are used to it by now and I am sure I will be getting all support virtually, which is the new normal," said Sindhu, who is seeded sixth at the Olympics and placed in Group J with Polikarpova Ksenia of Israel and Hong Kong's Cheung Ngan Yi.
