New Delhi: Adapting to the conditions in Rio and changing on-court strategy in match situation will vital to success, according to Indian shuttler P V Sindhu.
"Adapting to conditions is important. So we are leaving early. We don't know how it would be. There will be drift and we will be practising for a week so to get used to the court. It will be an important week for us in Rio," Sindhu, who won two bronze medals at World championships in 2013 and 2014, said.
Asked about the competition in women's singles, the 21-year-old from Hyderabad said: "There is no particular person who is a favourite. It is all about giving your best on that day.
"I have beaten all of them in the past and it gives me confidence but then it gets tougher and tougher as we play them again because they know our strokes and we know there game, so it is all about changing the strategy on the court. That would be the key," she said.
The three-time Macau Open winner will be participating in her maiden Olympics.
"Experience is important but then how you play on the given day also matters. Sometimes even the experienced ones make mistakes. Experience matters but luck also matters.
"This season, I played many tournaments as it is a crucial year. Sometimes I was playing well and sometimes not. I learnt from my mistakes. I played against all of them, all the top players. Everybody has a distinct style of play and it was a good learning experience which I think will help at the Olympics."
From watching Saina Nehwal win a bronze at London Olympics to carrying India's medal hopes at Rio, Sindhu has come a long way.
Asked if she feels the pressure, Sindhu said: "Pressure is always there. But we need not get bogged down by that. It is part of an athlete's life. I am really excited to play at Olympics. "
Sindhu has been clubbed with Commonwealth Games champion Michelle Li of Canada and Hungary's Laura Sarosi in group M. If she crosses the league stage, the Indian will have to overcome Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei and China's Yihan Wang to make it to the semis. (PTI)
