“Every tournament is important for me.”

Winning a tournament at the end of the year boosts your confidence a lot.

It’s always good to win a title.

The year 2017 has been really good for me. Definitely, a lot of positive things to learn from.

There will be many obstacles in the pursuit of your dreams. I had long hours of training, balancing studies and badminton.

Your dreams are what define your individuality. They have the power to give you wings and make you fly high.

I went to school like any other regular student till Class VIII, and my favourite subject was math. From Class IX, things got a little difficult to manage. I was inclined towards studies, but then I also had to give time to badminton.

We need to be always prepared for every match.

Sometimes it does upset you when you lose in the finals, or even in a quarterfinal or semifinal, especially when you think, ‘Maybe I could have played better,’ or even if you gave your 100 percent, and even then, you lose.

Be it ‘Mary Kom,’ ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag,’ or ‘Dangal,’ each one was inspiring in its own way. But my favourite is ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.’

I think the coaches have to play a big role in the players’ development.

When you are injured, you need to strengthen yourself very well to make a comeback very confidently.

It is never the case that I will push myself more for the World Championships and play differently in a Super Series or vice-versa.

Ups and downs will be happening; coming to the final and losing by a point or so should not matter.

There is always scrutiny and pressure from the media. I am always told that I have to win.

I should not think that I have to win every match and what others will think; that will create extra pressure. I just have to give best on court.

I would love to act in a film if it is based on my life. But then it all depends on who is making it and how much time it would require for me to shoot.

You can’t compare one tournament with another.

Winning a tournament at the end of the year boosts your confidence a lot.

I consider the All England as like any normal super series tournament.

Every tournament I have won has been memorable.

It is very important to be confident and strong even if you lose, because you know there are tournaments coming up next, and you have to be prepared for it.

When I come into a tournament, I’m expecting to win. That’s my philosophy. I can’t go to a tournament thinking, ‘I’m going to get my ass kicked today, so I might as well leave.’

One tournament win doesn’t make you perfect.

I don’t follow other players or the tournaments they play. I have my own schedule and do my own thing. I never really think, ‘Oh, I want to be or play like so-and-so.’ I just like being myself.