This season has not been favorable for PV Sindhu. The ace Indian shuttler, after multiple defeats in tournaments, is seen to be struggling with self-assurance. Vimal Kumar, the ex-coach of the Indian team, opined, "She is at the moment low on confidence and she has some work to do. We shouldn't expect much from her at the Asian Games."
Since her commendable triumph at the Commonwealth Games last August, where she clinched gold, Sindhu's journey has been fraught with challenges. An ankle injury leading to a five-month hiatus from the sport certainly did not help. In her quest to revitalize her game and break free from this streak of losses, the 28-year-old badminton star turned to legendary Prakash Padukone, training intensively at his renowned academy, PPBA in Bengaluru.
Elaborating on the training sessions, Vimal Kumar, who is also the director at PPBA, stated to PTI, "We have been sitting and observing her sessions. Prakash spoke to her and tried to motivate her. We have also interacted with her coach (Muhammad Hafiz Hashim)."
The recent past has not been particularly encouraging for the 2019 world champion. She faced seven initial round exits at BWF tour events during this year alone. Only a few of her performances like a semifinal stance at the Canada Open and quarterfinals at the US Open Super 300 and Australian Open Super 500 can be lauded.
The impact of these losses is not lost on Sindhu. Speaking of her US Open quarterfinal loss, she confessed, "This loss has left a significant emotional impact on me, especially considering the challenging and demanding year I've had. It's disheartening to experience a disappointing defeat after each successful tournament."
Vimal Kumar, after closely monitoring Sindhu's performance during her time at the academy, suggests that the Olympic medallist should consider implementing technical modifications to her gameplay. "She is a big player and it is important to give her some time, it might take her a few months to regain her touch. There are a few technical aspects, where she can make some changes."
As preparation for the imminent Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Sindhu opted to forego participating in the China Open Super 1000 and Hong Kong Open Super 500. The multi-sport event is set to kick off on September 23. While training at PPBA, she was accompanied by her personal coach, the Malaysian Hafiz Hashim.
PV Ramana, Sindhu's father and a bronze medalist from the 1986 Asian Games, expressed his gratitude towards Prakash Padukone and the PPBA team, saying, "The last week has been a good change for her. It is good to learn from different coaches, everyone has different views and ways."
This phase proves to be a defining juncture for world number 14, Sindhu, especially since the Olympic qualification period for the 2024 Games commenced this May. Earlier in the year, Sindhu chose to part ways with her Korean coach Park Tae-Sang, under whose guidance she secured a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics. Before engaging with Hafiz, she trained under SAI coach Vidhi Chaudhary.
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