Although her performance wasn’t close to her best last year, PV Sindhu still secured her first title since the Commonwealth Games in August 2022 by winning the Syed Modi India International in Lucknow in December.
“That victory was extremely significant. It provided me with a significant uplift. It had been a long time since I last won a title (28 months). I had been participating in quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. However, that victory provided me with that confidence. It’s always beneficial to conclude the season with a victory and carry that confidence into the future,” stated the world No. 14.
With a title to her name, Sindhu is keen to take the court at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex to kick off her season, particularly with a new coach by her side. Indonesian Irwansyah Adi Pratama has been brought on board to train India’s women singles players, and the two-time Olympic medallist is confident she can achieve victory again.
Also read: Japan issues Tsunami warning after 6.8-magnitude Earthquake
“We have only just begun. The relationship between a coach and an athlete is crucial, and it will certainly require time, but I am genuinely excited for this to develop. I’ve participated in several training sessions, and I’m starting to grasp his thought process,” said the five-time World Championship medallist.
Sindhu will begin her campaign by facing Taiwan’s Sung Shou Yun, with the upcoming sixth seed from Japan, Tomoka Miyazaki, expected to be her opponent in the second round. In addition to her, Lakshya Sen, along with the energetic doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, will also display their skills in the competition.
Over 200 athletes from leading badminton countries like India, China, Japan, Denmark, South Korea, and Indonesia will compete in the India Open this week, with 36 Indian competitors scheduled to take part in the event.
