Asian Games 2023: Sindhu admits self-doubt creeping in after quarter-final loss

India’s PV Sindhu during her quarter-final defeat to China’s He Bingjiao in Hangzhou. Pic/PTI

India's former world champion and two-time Olympic medal-winning shuttler PV Sindhu admitted moments after her 16-21, 12-21 quarter-final defeat to China's He Bingjiao at the Binjian Gymnasium here that she is experiencing a low.

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"This is the period when you go low at times. You don't know what to do, what's happening. Especially after injury, you don't know if you have to believe in yourself, can you do it or can you not? I think it's important to just stay there, take one day at a time, keep believing in yourself, keep working hard," said the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games silver medallist, who has lost in the opening round of as many as seven out of 14 BWF World Tour events this year.

"I know it's not easy, but it's very important that you keep working. There might be losses. After winning so many and losing suddenly, it feels sad, but it's important to just be there and fight back and come back stronger, which I believe I can do," she added.

Sindhu, 28, seemed to be no match for the fleet-footed World No. 5 Bingjiao, 26, a two-time world championship medallist, who enjoyed the better of the exchanges and excellently covered all corners of the court throughout the 47-minute encounter.

Sindhu said she will turn to her family and friends for motivation, going forward. "I have a lot of friends, who support and motivate me. My parents too. The surrounding need to be positive. I'm sure I will definitely come back. I have a couple of Super Series coming up - Finland, Denmark, France. The dream never dies. The ultimate aim is to win my third Olympic medal, but before that there are qualification tournaments. So, you have to stay injury free," she added.