MUMBAI, July 26: World champion PV Sindhu on Sunday said initial failures at the international stage was disappointing but defeating the then reigning Olympic champion Li Xuerui at the China Open in 2012 strengthened her resolve to succeed in the senior circuit.
Sindhu had burst onto the scene when as a 16-year-old she had stunned London Olympics gold medallist Li in the quarterfinals of China Masters. A year later, she claimed a maiden bronze medal at the prestigious World Championships.
She eventually went on to win five medals in the prestigious tournament two bronze, two silver and a gold, besides the Olympic silver medal four years ago in Rio de Janeiro.
�When I started playing I was doing well but international standards are not the same. In the beginning, I kept losing in first rounds, qualifying rounds. I realised I needed to go out harder, that is when I kept working hard,� Sindhu told paddler Mudit Dani on his online show �In The Sportlight�. � PTI
