Unlike most youngsters who have school as their second home where they meet and make friends, for me playtime has been at the Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad. When I am not playing a tournament, my days are spent at the Academy with my coaches, physiotherapists and colleagues, who are like family. We laugh and have so much fun.

Badminton is not as glamorous as cricket.

I cannot believe there is caste system in society; I cannot believe people are judged on the basis of their prosperity.

My hero is Roger Federer.

I am a huge Bollywood fan, and my favourite actor of all time is Shah Rukh Khan.

My grandmother did not come to see me till a month after my birth. I was born seven years after my only sister and my birth was a big disappointment for her. In it there is a message that I understand very well now about the discrimination against the girl child. My uncles and other relatives are against encouraging girls. My parents are more open. They back me all the way.

After I win a match, I celebrate it by having an ice cream.