Sindhu has struggled to pick the big titles on the circuit, as her game slowed down considerably and dropped below serious elite contention. (AP Photo)
PV Sindhu intends to target a medal at the next Asian Games, and non injury-permitting, continue even further to next Olympics, her father PV Ramana, informed. “She’s back in practice at the Gachibowli stadium in Hyderabad, and will start with the Arctic Open (October 8-13) in Finland,” he said.
Sindhu is unlikely to continue training in Bangalore, but the future is fluid, the parent informed. “Since no camps have started, we have begun training at Hyderabad,” he added. Sindhu, who won Olympic silver in 2016 and bronze in 2021, returned from her first Games without a medal, going out to eventual silver medallist He Bingjiao in pre-quarters at Paris.
Former Olympian, and fellow tall player, Anup Sridhar, who had a promising albeit short stint coaching Lakshya Sen, will accompany Sindhu to the European swing – Arctic Open followed by Denmark Open (October 15-20) – on a trial-basis.
“We are looking for a new coach with Agus’s contract ending. We are keen to see how a partnership with Anup Sridhar works out, and are looking at 4-5 names going forward. Anup will travel to Finland and will train her in Hyderabad in coming days,” Ramana said.
Sindhu’s injuries and piling losses since clinching gold at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games two years ago has been a worrying factor. (Express archive)
Names like Korean Park Tae-sang were also in consideration. “It’s not like they parted ways after a fight. It’s just that both me and Sindhu felt the partnership wasn’t working out and yielding results,” he said.
Sindhu is currently undergoing fitness work at the ‘Track’ facility, and has secured the Gachibowli stadium for further training slots. Most of the next two months though will involve travelling for tournaments, as the European swing will be followed by Korea, Kumamoto and China Masters (from November 5 to 24). “I believe she can continue for long, if there are no injuries,” Ramana said.
Sindhu has struggled to pick the big titles on the circuit, as her game slowed down considerably and dropped below serious elite contention. But her father reckons she is still motivated to go onto the Asian Games in Japan in two years time. Sindhu won silver at 2018 Jakarta, in her best performance.
India’s search for the future of women’s singles continues, and there have been encouraging signs with Anmol Kharb winning smaller titles in back to back weeks, and Malvika Bansod making China Open quarters. “Sindhu has nothing left to prove, but she still thinks she can aim at the Asian Games,” Ramana said.
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