Indian shuttler PV Sindhu, entered the semi-finals of the women’s singles category at the ongoing Rio Olympics, has rated her win over London Olympics silver medalist Yihan Wang as one of the best moments of her career hoping that, she could maintain her good form against Japanese Nozomi Okuhara.

“This is also Rio Olympics, it’s a very different feeling. It’s one of the best moments. I hope there will be many more to come,” World No 10 said after her 22-20 21-19 victory.

She said:”I was just thinking about the game. If you play really well you will automatically win the game and a medal. I’m just focused on my match and the next match, the semis (against Okuhara). I hope I can give my best.”

“There were big rallies, she was attacking well. My smashes were going out initially. Even she did not leave and she was lifting everything. I was really patient and I was ready for everything, which I feel was the turning point.”

“I never thought I would lose this, because any moment anything can change. It was not so easy to get points, both of us fought for every point. It was very close. In the first game it was 20-all and I felt even though I was leading I never thought the game was over. She came really close, even she played brilliantly,” she said.

“It was good (the win against Wang Yihan) but in my book she can do a notch higher. There’s of course some chances of improvement in a couple of areas,” Indian badminton national coach Pullela Gopichand said after Sindhu earned a hard-fought 22-20 21-19 win over the world number two Wang to make the semis.

“She’s been inconsistent a few times and squandered leads but I think it’s part of her learning experience. She’s still young and has age on her side. I think she’s a great fighter with great work ethic,” Gopichand said.

Her coach said, “I think definitely, it’s one of the biggest. The (Olympic quarterfinal) stage makes it special. She played really well and was all fired up. It was really a good match, a spirited performance from the beginning. Both the players fought well. Sindhu stayed calmer and finished off. She showed great attitude. Sindhu straightway got into a a good retrieving capacity to negate Yan’s attack. It was very close call on all the games.”

By Premji