Will Sindhu breach the Great Wall of China at Rio?

I recount this incident from 2012 because it gives a peek into the child-like personality of PV Sindhu. After a three-hour-long gruelling session on court at the Pullela Gopichand badminton academy in Hyderabad, Sindhu was relishing her breakfast of puri-subzi and watermelon juice at the canteen.

 

As de-stresser, she was watching a Telugu over-the-top comedy film on TV at the canteen. 

 

“It is an entertainer, you must watch it,” Sindhu told me, laughing. 

 

Having come to the academy like always for her 4:30 am session with coach Gopichand, Sindhu was going home early that morning because she had to prepare for her Class 12 exam the following day.

 

“I study whenever I have time, which is not much, since I spend seven hours playing badminton and training at the academy. My target is just to pass. I am not worried since last year by studying for just one week, I got 70%,'' she said. 

 

A 70%, however, won't get Sindhu past Wang Yihan. Nothing less than 200% effort off and on court on Wednesday morning IST would do.

 

Like fellow shuttler Kidambi Srikanth who faces China's Lin Dan in the quarters, Sindhu has to breach the Great Wall of Wang Yihan to keep India's medal hopes alive at the Rio Olympics.

 

With favourite Saina Nehwal upset by an unfancied world number 61 from Ukraine, the mantle of keeping the Indian flag in the competition in the women's singles is on 21-year-old Sindhu.

 

India and Sindhu are no strangers to Wang Yihan. India has an Olympic score to settle with Yihan as she had defeated Saina Nehwal at the 2012 London Olympics in the semi-final in straight games 21-13, 21-13.

 

Subsequently, when Yihan lost the final to fellow Chinese Li Xuerui, she was almost in tears and looked very upset to be on the podium with the silver.

 

Yihan holds a 4-2 win-loss record against Sindhu. Even though the advantage is with China, those two victories that Sindhu registered against Yihan would give her the confidence that the silver medallist at the London 2012 is beatable.

 

And the pressure will be far more on Yihan than on Sindhu, who in fact, has nothing to lose and will get into court as the underdog. 

 

Sindhu, the daughter of two India volleyball players - PV Ramana (member of the Indian team that won the bronze at the 1986 Asian Games) and P Vijaya - was born with silver spoon in her mouth in the form of quality sporting DNA. Among them, her height - she stands tall at 5'11 - that gives her a distinct advantage as she is able to cover the court well. 

 

That helped her considerably during her years on the national stage. In fact, in 2012, when she became the senior national champion, she became the only player since Prakash Padukone to hold the junior and senior national titles at the same time. 

 

Two-time bronze medallist at the World badminton championship in 2013 and 2014, Sindhu knows a thing or two about soaking in pressure on the big stage.

 

The failure to make it to the finals on two consecutive occasions at the same event also is a reminder that Sindhu needs to take care about the last mile. Preparation so far has focused on getting used to the conditions inside the playing arena at Rio. 

 

On D-day, everything will boil down to strategy that Gopichand draws up for his ward. Like they always do, videos of Yihan would have been studied closely by now to look out for chinks in her armour.

 

The challenge will be to ensure Yihan does not run away with the match by playing an outright aggressive game. Sindhu needs to keep herself in the match by engaging in rallies and a smart net game. 

Wang Yihan, after winning her match, sat and watched Sindhu's pre-quarters match. She knows the Indian shuttler, notwithstanding her first appearance in the Olympics, has the reputation of being a giant-killer.

 

At the 2013 quarter finals at the World championship, Sindhu had beaten Yihan. So it is understandable that this `Made in China' champ will be wary of a Start-up India shuttler. 

 

Speaking to a news channel after her match, Sindhu said, “I believe in myself.” 

 

India believes as well.