Star shuttler P V Sindhu says she was desperate to win the World Championships title last year after a string of runner-up finishes as people started calling her "silver Sindhu".
Sindhu, who also won a silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics, admitted that she felt bad when people said she has a "final phobia".
"In the World Championships (last year), it was my third final, I have also won two bronze. I thought I have to win this at any cost. I was so desperate to win the title. I did not want people to say she lost in final again," Sindhu said.
"I thought no matter what happens, I will give 100 per cent and I have to just win this title. There were times people say 'silver Sindhu' about me. Sometimes these things comes to my mind," she told Indian women cricketers Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues on the talk show "Double Trouble".
Talking about that day of final when she beat her nemesis Nozomi Okuhara of Japan 21-7 21-7, Sindhu said, "Even if we say we are fine and cool, we have a bit of pressure. But I thought I will just focus on my game. I gave my best and won the final."
"It is not easy to come to the semifinal and final, but people do not know that. They are like 'she lost in the final again'. But winning and losing is part of life."
"My thinking was 'all right, I can win this final'. You should not bother people criticising you. For me, it is like 'all right I can do it this time'. Just come back, rectify your mistakes and do better."
"I thought I will need to give my best and I just went out there with that thought."