P. V. Sindhu is showing that she still has plenty to offer at the highest level of badminton, with recent victories signalling a promising return to form.
The 31-year-old Indian shuttler has faced questions about her place among the world's leading players in recent years. However, rather than relying on the approach that brought her earlier success, Sindhu has focused on improving her game and adapting to the demands of modern badminton.
Her recent performances, including titles at the Japan Open and Hylo Open, suggest that the changes are beginning to pay off.
A key part of Sindhu's development has been her work with former Indonesian singles coach Irwansyah, who previously guided players such as Jonatan Christie and Anthony Ginting. Under his guidance, she has been working to move beyond her traditional power-based style, adding greater tactical variety and sharper decision-making to her game.
The aim is to make her more adaptable on court, allowing her to respond to different opponents and situations rather than depending mainly on attacking shots.
Physical preparation has also played an important role in her comeback. South African conditioning expert Wayne Lombard has been helping Sindhu improve her fitness, with data tracking used to monitor her progress and manage her workload.
Her support team also includes physiotherapist Shreyasi Sanjay and nutritionist Nicole Kedia. Together, they oversee different aspects of her preparation, from physical recovery and nutrition to sleep and overall conditioning.
Source: The Hindu
This more complete approach has helped Sindhu maintain her fitness while building consistency in competition. After winning the Japan Open, she continued her strong run at the Hylo Open, where she defeated Denmark's Line Kjaersfeldt in the final without dropping a game.
Her progress was also reflected at the French Open, where she finished runner-up after losing to world No. 1 An Se Young. Despite falling short of the title, Sindhu viewed the result as an encouraging sign of the work being done behind the scenes.
Reflecting on her French Open campaign in an Instagram post, she wrote: "There's a part of me that's just really happy to feel all those long days, difficult losses and endless hours of work finally beginning to mean something. I've missed this feeling more than I can explain."
The Hylo Open victory provided another boost to her confidence, with Sindhu expressing satisfaction with the progress made by her team.
"This gives me a lot of confidence. I'm happy that things are going according to plan, and I'm grateful to my whole team," she said.
With a more varied playing style and a stronger support structure, Sindhu appears to be finding her rhythm again. Her latest results offer encouragement as she looks to remain competitive against the world's best and add more titles to an already distinguished career.
