A five-time medallist, including a historic gold in 2019, expectations are high from the 31-year-old as India prepares to host the marquee event for the first time since 2009. Years have passed, but PV Sindhu remains India’s biggest hope for a medal at a tournament like the BWF World Championships .
She has won five medals at the event, including a gold, and the spotlight will be even brighter this time with the tournament being held in New Delhi. “I won’t deny that there is no pressure. It has been seven years since Sindhu last stood on the World Championship podium, but the wait has done little to dent her confidence. Fresh from winning the Japan Open, Sindhu is carrying the weight of expectations on home soil, but is not shying away from it. Sindhu knows what it is like to enter a World Championship with expectations riding on her shoulders. She admits there is pressure, but she does not want it to take away from her game. For Sindhu, the focus is simple: take the pressure out of the equation, trust her game and give her best on the court, regardless of what the result may be. The game has changed over the years, and Sindhu has made sure she has changed with it. Women’s singles is no longer just about attacking badminton, with long rallies, patience and the ability to adapt playing an increasingly important role. Sindhu’s years of experience have helped her understand how to deal with different conditions on court, from drift to shuttle control, and make the necessary changes during a match. Whether it is Wang Zhi, Yamaguchi or An Se-young, it will not be easy.
After putting in the hard yards in training, the 31-year-old wants to step on court, give her best and play without carrying the burden of what is expected of her. With a younger generation bringing more pace and energy to the court, the 31-year-old has made significant adjustments to her game to stay competitive. Because i know I’ve trained hard and I’ve worked hard in my training session,” Sindhu said at a press conference a day before the BWF World Championship begins, there is pressure, but at the same time, for me, there’s nothing to lose, and I just want to give my best.
Ahead of the tournament, she is clear in her mind that there is “nothing to lose” for her. “We might know each other’s game, but we still have to make changes according to the court and shuttle conditions. There will be tough matches, and I need to be prepared,” the ace shuttler said.
But a day before the start of the championships, Sindhu is trying to keep things simple.
