Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Aug.20 (ANI): Ecstatic after clinching a historic silver medal in badminton at the ongoing Rio Olympics, ace Indian shuttler PV Sindhu has said she is on cloud nine at the moment as all the hard work she put in throughout the week has finally paid off.
"I am really happy. I am on cloud nine today. It has been a wonderful week for me even though I have got silver. Both of us really fought hard in the finals, but yes one should win and one would lose. It was her (Carolina Marin) day today. Overall it was a good game and I have settled with the silver. I am really happy about it," Sindhu, who scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman athlete to hand her country an Olympic silver medal, told in an exclusive interview to ANI.
While pointing out that winning or losing is a part of the game, Sindhu said that she was really happy to end her debut campaign in the prestigious quadrennial games at least with a silver medal.
"One by one I reached the finals. It is like only one can win a match. And she did it today. A bit nervous, but I am really happy that I finished off with a silver rather than losing in the before rounds," she added.
Admitting that she is honoured to be an Indian, the 21-year-old lanky shuttler thanked her coach Pullela Gopichand for all the hard work and sacrifices he had made to help her reach so far.
"I am very proud to be an India, especially first Indian to win individual silver medal. I am very thankful to everybody out there who all supported and who all prayed for me. I think from now it is totally changed for me," an elated Sindhu said.
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"He has done many sacrifices for me and I am really very thankful to him. I think because of him I am here today because I have really worked hard and he had been equally working harder. I think whatever I wanted, he was always there for me. So, I am really thankful to my coaches and also to my support staff. Also, the Indian Government and my parents because they have also worked hard for me. I would dedicate my medal to my coach and my parents," she insisted.
After producing a spirited fight-back to clinch the first game, the Hyderabadi shuttler failed to capitalize on it and went on to suffer a 19-21, 21-12, 21-15 defeat against world number one Carolina Marin in the nerve -wracking finals of the women's singles event that lasted one hour and 20 minutes.
Sindhu's silver medal comes after Sakshi Malik won the Bronze in 48-kg freestyle wrestling event.
Earlier, Sindhu produced a perfect blend of power and aggression as she registered a 21-19, 21-10 win over reigning All England singles champion Nozomi Okohura of Japan to book her place in the finals of the prestigious quadrennial event and assure India of its second medal at the ongoing Rio Olympics and in the games' history.
Sindhu has now become the second Indian player in badminton to win an Olympic medal after Saina Nehwal, who had clinched bronze in London four years ago.
With the feat, Sindhu has also become the fifth Indian woman to clinch a medal in Olympics history after Karnam Malleswari, Mary Kom, Saina Nehwal and Sakshi Malik.
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