Sindhu aims to hit the ground running before Tokyo Olympics
BENGALURU: World champion PV Sindhu has decided not to return to competitive action this year, but does not expect her prolonged pandemic-related absence to hamper her preparations for next year’s rescheduled Tokyo Olympics.
The Rio silver medallist has skipped the ongoing Denmark Open as the BWF World Tour season resumed following a seven-month shutdown due to the COVID-19 crisis. She will make her return when the Tour swings to Asia in January.
The 25-year-old, who resumed training at the national camp in Hyderabad in August after a fourmonth hiatus, will play in the Asia Open I (January 12-17) and Asia Open II (January 19-24) and believes that her challengers in the top-10 will be well rested.
“I missed playing badminton. But I trained every day at home, so I am in good shape. When I started playing again, it took me one or two weeks to come back but I am fine and fit. I am waiting for tournaments to start,” World No.7 Sindhu said on Friday.
“It has been seven months without competitive action. It is going to be different and challenging as everybody must have improved. It is not easy to say there are just one or two players because everybody will be challenging at the Olympics. Everybody is going to be in top form. The top-10 in the world are of the same standard, so each one is challenging.” Sindhu, who last played at the All England Open in March, said, adding that the rest of her schedule before the Tokyo Games is unclear.
“I am positive and I am practising, so I hope everything goes on well,” added Sindhu. “I was a bit sad, but it is fine. The whole world came to a standstill and it was important to take care of ourselves. Life comes first.”