'It's sad. The result, I couldn't get what I expected; but it's a journey, isn't it?'
P V Sindhu has no regrets about her preparation for the Paris Olympics, saying she did everything she could to be in the best shape but her defence let her down in the women’s singles pre-quarter-final against China's He Bing Jiao, in Paris, on Thursday.
She ran the Chinese world No. 9 close in the first game but unending unforced errors meant that Bing Jao ran away with the match, winning 21-19, 21-14 in 56 minutes.
The two-time Olympics medalist (silver in the 2016 Rio Games and bronze in the Tokyo edition) even dictated a few points but had no answer to Bing Jiao's superior attack.
"I should have controlled in terms of a little bit of mistakes on my defence is what I felt," said Sindhu, reflecting on the reason for her defeat.
Sindhu attended a training camp in Germany and also joined forces with Indian badminton icon Prakash Padukone for better preparation.
"Everybody worked hard, so we've done whatever we could. Rest is destiny. I don't regret it.
“I kept fighting still, because you never know anything can happen. Both of us were fighting for each point because until the end you can't expect...
"It's not easy win or easy points; you can't think that you have finished the game," she added.
Bing Jiao's smashes and soft drops had Sindhu scurrying on both sides of the court. But when Sindhu attacked, the Chinese defended well.
"She has that jump smash. Even my smashes, I think, which were mid-court, they were just going out when she was challenging.
"I should have hit them inside and I should have got those points where I've made those unforced errors.
"She got much more confident in that because when I was hitting, she was defending; still some points, which were really mid-court also, I was hitting just out or just into her hand."
It was neck-and-neck in the first game with both players locked 19-19. She said winning the game from that position could have changed things for her.
"It's sad that I couldn't convert it to win, especially in the first game because it was 19-all at some point.
"I think if it would have been the other way, especially when I challenged it. If I would have won the first set, maybe it would have been different. But I think it was... I mean, there were rallies and it was going on well, but only one can win."
Asked if she would try to play in the next Olympics in the United States, Sindhu was non-committal.
"It's still four years away. So, for me right now, I just go back and rest for a bit, maybe just take some break and then come back and let's see what it is… because four years is a very, very long time. So, let's see," the 29-year-old said.
"It's sad. The result, I couldn't get what I expected; but it's a journey, isn't it?
"It's been a wonderful journey so far. There were ups and downs, and I came back from an injury, and everything was going on well. You can't expect easy wins or picking the form at the right time. Sometimes it might not be your day. We all really worked hard."
In game two, Sindhu tried to unsettle Bing Jiao with smashes but her opponent picked up all those low shots as well.
"Her defense was really good today. She was taking everything and I had to be even more patient. Sometimes I was changing and I was getting points. I was dictating and I was getting a few points, but I think it was not enough today. "
