<p>P V Sindhu was the epitome of grace on Friday, even when her golden dreams lay shattered on the centre court at the Riocentro Pavilion.<br /><br /></p>.<p>She picked herself off the court, walked up to the other side where the gold-medal winner, Carolina Marin, was having a tearful time. She congratulated the new champion, kept her racquet in her courtside box before finding some consolation on the shoulders of her coach Pullela Gopichand.<br /><br />Minutes later, with a shining silver medal around her neck, she was answering questions from the media with composure, never letting her disappointment come out.<br /><br />“I am on cloud nine,” said Sindhu. “The aim was to get a medal after I reached the final and I hoped well enough to win the gold. But never mind, I have got the silver. We both played well, she was amazing,” she said.<br /><br />Given the tough draw that was handed to her, Sindhu said she didn’t expect to make the final. “I am really proud of the way I fought. I didn’t expect that I’d make the final. After that, I worked really hard. The final was anyone’s game. But she won a couple of points from there and remained ahead right until the end,” she said.<br /><br />Sindhu, the second Indian to win a badminton medal after Saina Nehwal’s bronze in London 2012, hoped her success would act as an inspiration to the youngsters. “We have many players coming up, in men’s singles, K Srikanth lost only to Lin Dan. I am sure more players will come up in the country,” she said.<br /><br />Sindhu dedicated her silver to her coach and her parents. "This is for them, they have supported me all along," she said.<br /><br />Asked whether her life would change after this, Sindhu felt that was a possibility. “I have won the silver medal, things can change in life but now, I will celebrate.”<br /><br />Gopichand was pleased with the way Sindhu carried herself. “I am happy with the way she conducted herself. I am sure she will go far in her sport,” said the man who has shaped the careers of two Olympic medalists now.<br /><br />Marin, meanwhile, was thrilled with the triumph after shedding more tears on the podium. “It is more than a medal because of everything behind the medal. It is amazing that my dream has come true. I have the best team behind me, they helped me a lot and were amazing,” she said.<br /><br /></p>
<p>P V Sindhu was the epitome of grace on Friday, even when her golden dreams lay shattered on the centre court at the Riocentro Pavilion.<br /><br /></p>.<p>She picked herself off the court, walked up to the other side where the gold-medal winner, Carolina Marin, was having a tearful time. She congratulated the new champion, kept her racquet in her courtside box before finding some consolation on the shoulders of her coach Pullela Gopichand.<br /><br />Minutes later, with a shining silver medal around her neck, she was answering questions from the media with composure, never letting her disappointment come out.<br /><br />“I am on cloud nine,” said Sindhu. “The aim was to get a medal after I reached the final and I hoped well enough to win the gold. But never mind, I have got the silver. We both played well, she was amazing,” she said.<br /><br />Given the tough draw that was handed to her, Sindhu said she didn’t expect to make the final. “I am really proud of the way I fought. I didn’t expect that I’d make the final. After that, I worked really hard. The final was anyone’s game. But she won a couple of points from there and remained ahead right until the end,” she said.<br /><br />Sindhu, the second Indian to win a badminton medal after Saina Nehwal’s bronze in London 2012, hoped her success would act as an inspiration to the youngsters. “We have many players coming up, in men’s singles, K Srikanth lost only to Lin Dan. I am sure more players will come up in the country,” she said.<br /><br />Sindhu dedicated her silver to her coach and her parents. "This is for them, they have supported me all along," she said.<br /><br />Asked whether her life would change after this, Sindhu felt that was a possibility. “I have won the silver medal, things can change in life but now, I will celebrate.”<br /><br />Gopichand was pleased with the way Sindhu carried herself. “I am happy with the way she conducted herself. I am sure she will go far in her sport,” said the man who has shaped the careers of two Olympic medalists now.<br /><br />Marin, meanwhile, was thrilled with the triumph after shedding more tears on the podium. “It is more than a medal because of everything behind the medal. It is amazing that my dream has come true. I have the best team behind me, they helped me a lot and were amazing,” she said.<br /><br /></p>
