Tokyo Olympics 2020: I didn’t want to assume it would be easy, says Sindhu after her win | Tokyo Olympics News – Times of India

PV Sindhu hardly broke any sweat as she eased past Ksenia Polikarpova of Israel 21-7, 21-10 in her first Group J match in Tokyo on Sunday.
The world champion was too good for the world No.58.
Though she is playing against a much weaker opponent, Sindhu said she did not want to take it easy. “Even though my opponent was lower-ranked. I didn’t want to assume it would be easy. It is important to be focused. I made sure we had some rallies and I got used to the court,” Sindhu told BWF website, adding that she wanted to use this match to get used to all her strokes.

“It’s important to make sure you play all your strokes and get used to them on the court because you can’t play them all of a sudden against a stronger opponent, you can’t do that. It is important to know that your strokes are going well,” she added.
Playing her first match after long time, Sindhu took a little time to settle down. After the first few points, it was Sindhu all the way.
From 5-5, Sindhu won 14 straight points and closed the game at 21-7. In the second game the Indian got off to a 2-0 start, went into the break at 11-1. Though Polikarpova won 10 points it was only because the Indian was trying a few different things.
Sindhu will now take on Cheung Ngan Yi of Hong Kong in her last group stage match. Sindhu is expected to ease past the world No.34 without much difficulty and top the group.
On facing Cheung next, Sindhu said, “Each match is important, and it is one match at a time. I am thinking about my next opponent. I will miss the spectators, but everyone is supporting me virtually. Tokyo is a fresh start, and it is important to be ready every day. Everybody will be in top form. I came with that mindset and I’m not thinking of the past, but what’s ahead.”
Sindhu’s likely rivals, Akane Yamaguchi (in quarterfinals) and Tai Tzu Ying (in semifinals) have won their first group matches in straight games.