World champion Carolina Marin's knee injury may have made people believe that the challenge in All England Championships in March has become easier for her competitors, but Indian badminton sensation PV Sindhu doesn't think so.
The 23-year-old feels the All England won't be a cake walk in Marin's absence.
"I think I just can't say it is a good chance, definitely it is not going to be easy. Because I said top 10 to 15 players are of same standards," Sindhu said during a promotional event here on Thursday.
Marin sustained knee injury while playing Saina Nehwal in the Indonesian Masters earlier this week.
"She (Carolina) had a knee surgery. Definitely a sad moment, but injuries are part of life. (We) Cannot think its going to be an easy draw or its going to be a cake walk. Because every match is important and equally tough. Every player has different style of play. I think now the Chinese are doing well, Chen Yu Fei, He Bingjiao, and Sung Ji Hyu, Ratchnok Intanon from Korea are doing well. So there are a couple of players from every country who are doing well," said Sindhu.
Sindhu ended 2018 with a title in World Tour Finals in December. She isn't sticking in the past though, but is keen on taking confidence from there.
"I am very happy that 2018 ended on a very good note. But 2018 is over, now its 2019. It is a fresh year, new year and new resolutions, and I hope that I will just give my best and play my game, improve a lot more. I think I shouldn't be over confident in that way thinking that I can win against anybody, as I said. I think on that day who plays well and gives their best is the winner," said Sindhu.
As far as the preparations for All England goes, Sindhu revealed her road to the event.
"I think we have the nationals then we have the All England Championships. It is one of the biggest tournaments. I hope to give my best. Play well, and I know it is not going to be easy. I think we have to be at our 100 percent. After that we have couple of Super Series and then we start with our Olympic qualifications where I think this year is we will have to keep ourselves fit and healthy."
Badminton players play tournaments throughout the year which has led players to know about each other. Sindhu said that it is of not help much.
"That doesn't help in one way. It is both actually. There are advantages and disadvantages where you can't apply the same strategy again and again. And another thing is you have played with them a couple of times, know what it is. If Plan A doesn't work, you can go with Plan B. There is no particular strategy with everyone. You have to strategise accordingly."
Asked if complacency factor creeps in with the number of tournaments players play, Sindhu said no.
"(It's) Very important to keep yourself motivated all the time, because there are ups and downs which are always there. You win some and you lose some, but that is always when you have to be strong, go back and learn from your mistakes and comeback stronger. Its not that you lose and then its over. But you have to think, that its over and you have to think about another thing."
She added: "I think you have to pick and choose tournaments where definitely 2018 was a very hectic year for everybody where we had the Asian Games, CWG and everything so that was very hectic. This year its very important because its the Olympic (qualification) year and hope to prepare for the whole and be prepared for the next year as well."
