Badminton: My aim is to break into world top-10, says Sindhu

Faridabad: National badminton champion PV Sindhu on Friday said that her aim is to break into the world top-10 at the earliest. Speaking at a badminton training clinic organised at Manav Rachna Sports Academy at Manav Rachna International School, Sector 14, Faridabad, Sindhu said she has been playing the Super series circuit since last year and her game has improved a lot since then.

“My aim is to break into the world top-10 at the earliest. I am playing the Super series circuit since last year and my game has improved a lot since then. It is important how one adapts and changes the game as per the requirement,” said Sindhu, adding that she loved playing with kids and it was fantastic to spend time with so many of them at Manav Rachna International School.

“I have never seen such facilities in schools before. I think this is a wonderful opportunity for kids since they can directly come for training from school and would not have to go through the hardship that I had to go through,” said the shuttler, adding that she was disappointed for missing out on an Olympic berth but wished the Indian contingent all the luck for the quadrennial event.

The 17-year-old, who was the only second player after Prakash Padukone to hold the junior and national singles crown together, gave tips to the 60-odd budding badminton stars who participated in the extensive training clinic divided into two sessions, under the supervision of former junior national coach Sanjeev Sachdeva.

Explaining the technicalities of the game and briefing the aspirants about the real life pressures the Asian Junior Champion urged the children to work hard and lead a disciplined life. She encouraged these youngsters to dream big as she had at their age.

Several youngsters took part in this special training clinic -- a joint initiative taken by Manav Rachna Sports Academy and Yonex – Sunrise. The clinic aimed at training the aspiring Badminton players at the academy was divided into two sessions. It was a wonderful and rare opportunity for them to rub shoulder with the teen sensation and take home valuable guidance.

P V Sindhu while inaugurating the clinic with Dr. O P Bhalla, acknowledged the efforts Manav Rachna Educational Institutions have been making in the field of sports and education and said, “Manav Rachna Educational Institutions is one of the very few institutions that have a futuristic approach towards sports in India. Being associated with these initiatives that Manav Rachna Institutions have made possible it feels wonderful to see children getting exposed to such fantastic facilities in their school itself. It is a very encouraging trend and Sindhu wished success for the future endeavours of Manav Rachna Sports Academy. 

Much of India’s sporting talent, in various disciplines has come from remote and rural areas. Recognising the need to spread the game of badminton far and wide and nurture talent from the grassroots level, Manav Rachna Sports academy and Yonex - Sunrise conducted one day badminton training clinic for budding players as well as coaches at Manav Rachna Sports Academy today.

Addressing at the inauguration ceremony, Dr. O P Bhalla, Chancellor, Manav Rachna International University, said, “We at Manav Rachna have made efforts to develop and promote the game by organising coaching clinics conducted by star players like P V Sindhu.

In the past also, clinics in various other disciple have been conducted by likes of Peter Karlsson, Gagan Narang and Kapil Dev, where budding players get a chance to meet these champions and gain firsthand experience from these players. The whole idea to bring Sindhu to interact with the children was to help them understand the effort that goes into becoming a champion. We through our world class teaching methodology and sports initiatives are trying to give a 360 degree approach to education, and such initiatives will only help and expose the children and their talent.”

PV Sindhu also played matches with 15 lucky children, decided through lottery in the final session to explain the nuances of the game. The organisers felicitated Sindhu for her Asian junior championship triumph, a feat that was never achieved by any Indian shuttler before.

The inauguration ceremony was also graced by Prashant Bhalla, Senior VP, Manav Rachna Educational Institutions; Dr. Amit Bhalla, VP, Manav Rachna Educational Institutions; Sarkar Talwar, Director Sports MRIU; Vikram Dhar, Country Head of Yonex Sunrise; Shilpi Dheer, Yonex; Mamta Wadhwa, Principal MRIS Sector 14; Capt. (Retd.) N.K. Verma, General Manager Operations, MRIS Sector 14 and Major (Retd.) V.K. Chaudhary, Administrator Manav Rachna Sports Academy.