Sindhu tweaks training to avoid repeat of ‘mental, fitness’ dip
MUMBAI: PV Sindhu continues to set the standard in Indian badminton, but India’s top woman player attributed two heartbreaking losses in 2017 to minor flaws which she is keen to iron out to achieve fresh glory. Sindhu, 22, was silver-medallist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, at last year’s world championships and also the year-ending event.
But Japanese rivals blocked her bid for world title. She lost a draining final to Nozomi Okuhara and the year-ending Dubai World Superseries she lost in the final to Akane Yamaguchi.
“I think (the close defeats) it is both mental and fitness-related. Getting to a final is tough in itself. Sometimes you may just lose it, but I always gave my best. Both the World Championships and Dubai were close matches,” Sindhu said at an event.
However, she won the India and Korea Open titles in 2017. The world No 4 admitted the pressure of expectations, but is focused on fresh training methods to raise her level. “There have been some changes in mental and physical conditioning. They are both important. I am working on my strokes, but there is lot of emphasis on fitness because matches go on for an hour to 90 minutes.”
Sindhu’s first big test of 2018 will be at the All England Open (starts March 14). “Expectations have risen after the Olympics and to keep up to those, I have to work so much harder. They (fans) want us to win every tournament. It’s not easy, the top 20 players are all at the same level.
CWG squads: Men: Kidambi Srikanth, HS Prannoy, Chirag Shetty, Satwik Sairaj, Pranaav Jerry Chopra
Women: P.V Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, Ashwini Ponappa, Sikki Reddy, Ruthvika Shivani Gaade.