You have to keep working all the time. How much you learn, there is always room for learning; you will have to keep improving all the time.

What hurts most is whenever I am leading, and then I lose the match, it is disappointing, and there are so many such matches.

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

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

I didn't think I would have an Olympic medal at 21, but I knew I would give my best and play my game. I just viewed it as my first Olympics and that I would take it one match at a time, but to bring a silver home made me very, very happy.

My parents have been volleyball players, and my dad is an Arjuna awardee in volleyball.

I love dressing up, and I'm aware that people do say that it can take your attention away from the game. But I disagree with this notion!

While I am training, I don't go out for events, so rest days, in a way, take away that time. Apart from that, I just stay at home and rest, maybe relax at home and spend time with family.

It was important for me to get a super series title.

I am really lucky that I got such good coaches and everything I wanted, right from the infrastructure to proper coaching.

I love making friends and make others happy. But I also love to be happy all the time. All that aggression that you see remains on the court only.

I am aggressive only on court.

I am thankful to my parents. They have done many sacrifices.

Life has changed both on and off the court after the Rio Olympics medal. I have a lot of confidence on the court now and feel anything is possible. I also feel that I have improved my game. Off the court, I do get recognised more now.

I have a lot of hunger to win the big titles.

Playing for Hyderabad Hunters is a very good feeling.

Previously, people were like, 'She might win the tournament,' but now it's like, 'She should win the tournament.'

I was 18 when I was presented with the Arjuna Award. To say it feels really good would be an understatement. But I don't know how else to convey the feeling. I am grateful for having received this prestigious award at such a young age.

Each tournament is equally important.

Every tournament I have won has been memorable.

I will keep working on different aspects of my games. It's not so easy, and I need to work on every stroke.

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 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.

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.

Life has changed after Rio. Winning a silver medal was a huge moment for me. It has come with a lot of responsibilities.

Women's badminton has become so competitive.

I love to experiment with my looks and dresses on and off the court because I love to turn out very well. But, I must add here that just good-looking athletes can't do anything for their sport.

I think judging a shuttle is different everywhere, so there is a drift, but you have to be used to it. We can't complain, as I think it is same for all.

A small cold and cough can actually stop you from going where you are.

There are many defining moments in my journey.

I have to keep moving and keep working hard.

My period days didn't make me falter: they made me more determined to pursue my dreams.

Nagpur to Kanyakumari and Kashmir, future Olympic medallists can come from anywhere. It is the passion that drives you, not the city, provided you get enough facilities.

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.

Every tournament is important for me.

I had once thought I would become a doctor but gave up on the thought soon enough. I took up the racquet instead. Later, when I saw my sister studying so much to become a doctor, I was like, 'Thank God I am a shuttler!'

Each tournament is different.

Definitely, the aim is to become No.1.

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

I put the good playing and game first, and money, prizes are secondary.

I have no tension. I only play to give my best.

I like Telugu movies, then comes Bollywood and then English movies. In Tollywood, I like Mahesh Babu and Prabhas. But no, I don't watch all their movies. I first find out if the movie is nice. If it's a flop, I don't watch it.

In my early years, I would travel 56 km. from home to the training institute and back every single day.

Since the Rio Olympics, the expectations are always high, and the responsibilities are also high. I am used to it now. You have to keep going and keep working hard.

You have to keep on learning all the time unless and until you become perfect in all the strokes.

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

You can't compare one tournament with another.

I train for six days in a week for eight to ten hours of practice per day.

Talking about world-class player, no player is easy to play at this level. Each player has a different style of play.

Saina is not someone special player that I have to win against. It's not like that I must beat her. She is one of the players.