PV Sindhu has been in horrendous form this year, and her woes seem to multiply manyfold with time. Just recently at the World Championships, after getting a bye in the first round, she lost to Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara. Last week, she pulled out of the China Open to focus on her preparations for the Asian Games 2023. With nothing working for her now, she has turned to Prakash Padukone for help, as per a report in the Times of India.
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PV Sindhu will be training under him for a week. She is accompanied by her entire team, including coach Muhammad Hafiz Hashim. This year has been an unmemorable one for the Indian champion, as she made seven first-round exits. After making a comeback to the circuit, post her injury layoff, she has lost rhythm and looks hapless even against opponents ranked lower than her.
Mental Toll
During the US Open, after losing to Gao Fang Jie in the quarters, PV Sindhu admitted that the loss had left an impact on her.
In a long social media post she wrote, “My US Open journey came to an end in the quarterfinals, where I faced the talented Gao Fang Jie. Despite having previously defeated her in Canada, she outplayed me in straight sets this time, making effective use of my weaknesses. I must commend her for being fully prepared and delivering an impressive performance. Next time I face you, Gao, should be a battle. Good luck with the finals, Continue playing like you are and the title should be yours.
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“This loss has left a significant emotional impact on me, especially considering the challenging and demanding year I’ve had. It’s disheartening to experience a disappointing defeat after each successful tournament. However, I am determined to channel my emotions into redoubling my efforts and making the remainder of the year truly remarkable.”