Sindhu ‘not yet fully fit’
DOUBLE Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has withdrawn from the season-ending BWF World Tour Finals as she is yet to fully recover from a stress fracture on her left ankle.
The 2018 champion sustained the injury on the way to her title-winning run at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August.
The BWF World Tour Finals is set to be held in Guangzhou, China, from December 14.
“Her doctor has advised her to take some more time so she recovers completely. She has discussed the pros and cons, but with Covid restrictions in Guangzhou and also keeping the new season in mind, she has taken this decision,” Sindhu’s father, PV Ramana, said.
“She has already started training, and by January she will be fully fit. She will need to be at her best next year which will have the Asian Games and also the 2024 Paris Olympics qualification. Playing about 22 tournaments will be tough, so she is taking extra care.”
Sindhu’s withdrawal means HS Prannoy remains the only Indian player at the prestigious tournament. While he is ranked third in the Race to Guangzhou ranking, Kidambi Srikanth too has an outside chance if he does well at the ongoing Australian Open Super 300 in Sydney.
Lakshya Sen had pulled out of the Australia event due to a throat infection.