"Badminton will gain momentum in a big manner after my win in Olympics. More players will participate in the game now."
"How well you eat and rest helps you analyse your energy reserves."
"I'm a normal girl. I don't go out much, and I don't know what is enjoyment."
"I was really surprised when I was told that my grandmother did not come to see me till a month after my birth. I was born seven years after my only sister Chandranshu, and my birth was a big disappointment for her."
"Men are domineering in rural Haryana, and that shows in sport, too."
"My uncles and other relatives are against encouraging girls in every aspect, and that includes sports. I hardly interact with them. My parents are more open. They back me all the way."
"Any girl who likes watching movies would like to work in them and would want to do all of that. I'm also one of them. But people know me for badminton and love me for it. So I'd stick to it right now. But maybe after badminton, I'll think about it."
"Both my parents were amateur badminton players. My father is a scientist and wanted me to be a doctor. But my mom was very aggressive and loved badminton. She pushed me right from the age of nine to take up the sport."
"At nine, my mom used to tell me she saw an Olympic medalist in me. I used to take it as a joke, but she was very serious."
"I really thank my parents for giving me the good sense to not get into anything wrong. There are many people around who like controversies, and I actually wonder how do they do it. I don't have the courage to get into controversies. There are people who love it; I find it silly."
"I never believed that India could win a medal in badminton because the competition is so tough."
"I have always wanted an Olympic medal. I always wanted to see India's national flag going up at the podium."
"My hero is Roger Federer."
"I am a huge Bollywood fan, and my favourite actor of all time is Shah Rukh Khan."
"After I win a match, I celebrate it by having an ice cream."
"Rankings are not so important. I am only focused on winning tournaments."
"I am a human being. When you are frustrated, you do cry. It's more than once that I cried."
"I think studies are really important and shouldn't be compromised."
"I want to see more sports in schools."
"I do not fear anybody on the field or in society, but I fear at night when I am away from my parents. I am scared of the unknown described in horror movies."
"I cannot believe there is caste system in society; I cannot believe people are judged on the basis of their prosperity."
"I enjoy three meals a day, and 90 per cent of what I eat is vegetarian and homemade. I occasionally eat non-vegetarian, and chicken preparations are my favourite."
"Once you are satisfied with your goal, it is the real happiness."
"My philosophy is to not be scared of anyone. If I play well, great; if I don't, I learn from the match and move on."
"When I was a kid, my parents would play badminton, but I hardly joined them. I'd just pick up their racquets and fiddle around. Check out how the racquet was made... toss it around to see how light it was! At the time, I didn't even know I'd play badminton."