Rio 2016: PV Sindhu Will Evolve Into A Better Player After Olympic Silver, Says Her Father

PV Sindhu has entered the Indian sporting folklore after her silver medal win at the Rio Olympics. The ace badminton player gave a tough fight to world No. 1 Carolina Marin in the women's singles final but could not win the top prize.

However, Sindhu's father PV Ramana said the loss in the final will only make Sindhu a better player in future.

"(Sindhu's opponent) Carolina Marin played an excellent game and she truly deserves the championship. However, we assure you under the guidance of her coach (P Gopichand) in the coming years, Sindhu will definitely perform well and keep the hopes of all Indians high," Ramana told NDTV.

Not wanting Sindhu to rest on her laurels, Ramana said this was not the end for the 21-year-old and she had a lot more to achieve.

"This is not the end, still many more tournaments to come. Superseries events, All Englands and four years will just pass by quickly, so keeping all this in view, we have to prepare."

Sindhu's father spoke about Marin's delaying tactics and said his daughter also needed to learn some of the nuances.

"We have to learn by looking at the opponent. In the final, you might have observed, her (Marin) screaming and without asking the umpire she would go wipe her hands. Asking for the shuttle to be changed, she delays when the opponent gets a point, these are some of the tactics that Sindhu has to learn," he opined.

Meanwhile, Sindhu's mother P Vijaya said that she was still contemplating what to gift her daughter when she returned to the country.

"We have still not decided what to gift her. She has given us a silver medal, so we have to think for Sindhu now," she told NDTV.

The 21-year-old from Hyderabad crumbled under the relentless pressure created by world no-1 Carolina Marin of Spain to lose 21-19, 12-21, 15-21 in a pulsating final that lasted for an hour and 23 minutes.

Sindhu, the two-time World championship bronze medallist, became the first Indian woman player to clinch a silver at the Olympics and fifth woman player from India to win an Olympic medal.

Sindhu started playing badminton since she was eight years-old. Her parents Ramana, an Arjuna awardee and his wife P Vijaya, both were volleyball players.

"We thank all the staff especially the coach for giving us a silver medal to our country. The way she (Marin) moved in the court was excellent. This is what Sindhu has to learn. How to shout and scream against the opponent to make her down and come up into the game. The coaches are there. They have noted down the points. I have no doubt that Sindhu will also act like Marin in the coming years," Ramana added. Hyderabad is home to number of players including Saina Nehwal, who had bagged an Olympic bronze in London in 2012.

(With inputs from Uma Sudhir and PTI)