By Sandip Sikdar
New Delhi, Jan 28 (IANS): Premier women's singles shuttler P.V. Sindhu says her target in 2014 is to be among the world's top-6 and maintain her position.
World No.11 Sindhu will be playing her first Commonwealth Games and Asian Games later this year. The 18-year-old Hyderabadi, who is the first Indian singles female player to win a bronze at the Worlds, is eyeing a medal at the two Games this year.
"Right now I am ranked World No.11 but I would like to come into the top-6 in 2014 and remain there. Hopefully, I will achieve my target and then aim for a better ranking in 2015. I want to take things a step at a time," Sindhu told IANS.
Sindhu said she was preparing hard for the two Games and aims to improve her endurance level because these competitions could test her.
"I will be playing the Commonwealth and the Asian Games for the first time so I hope it to be a good experience. I need to practise and improve a lot more. I will also be focussing on increasing my endurance level and for that I will be training quite hard," she said.
"I will try to be at my best in these two Games. The competition is going to be tough. I will not take any opponent lightly because anyone can spring a surprise, whether it is a junior or a senior. We don't know who is going to play and how. No player will be easy and I am not going to be overconfident at all," said the reigning national champion.
Sindhu has started the year on a fine note by reaching the final of the India Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament in Lucknow where she lost to Saina Nehwal Sunday.
"It was a good match. There were good, long rallies but I made many simple errors which could have been avoided. Many line calls also went against me but it happens and I have to live with it. I am happy with my performance in the tournament and I played well in the final too," said Sindhu.
Talking about her forthcoming tournaments, the Arjuna Awardee said she would take part in the All India Senior Ranking Tournament in Kochi from Jan 29 before flying to Europe.
"After the All India Senior Rankings, we have the German Open (Feb 25-March 2), the All-England and the Swiss Open in March so will be preparing for that," said Sindhu.
The teenager added that since the calendar is tight this year with the presence of the Commonwealth and Asian Games, she could well cut down on a number of tournaments.
"The schedule is very tight and I have to plan accordingly. I will have to decide on the tournaments after a discussion with coach Pullela Gopichand," added Sindhu.