Indian Champion P.V Sindhu is hoping to get back to top form after several poor performances. Comparing the 2019 World Championships, where she won the Gold medal to how she exited several first and second rounds. Her recent journey has been eventful in a strange way.
Sindhu, who has scraped through the Women’s Badminton to gift the country its first World’s Gold, has been struggling for the form to win matches, losing to players which she will naturally beat on her good day. To make matters worse, Saina Nehwal, who is also the country’s other top performer, has also suffered the same fate of early defeats.
Questions have been raised as to what could cause her mediocre performances. It remains to be seen if it is fatigue, poor fitness, or lack of form.
During the World Championship in Basel, Switzerland, in August 2019, Sindhu looked unbeatable. The way and manner in which she defeated top stars in the game were brilliant. Afterward, it was expected of her to add more trophies to her cabinet, but unfortunately, she experienced a downturn in her form, which almost crippled her career.
Ex-National Champion Arvind Bhat, who is now a renowned coach, expressed his fears saying, “ it will be totally wrong to judge a grand champion like Sindhu that way. With the coach solidly behind her, I think she will rediscover her form “. It is possible Sindhu might have been mentally relaxed after the tournament. And this could be the reason for her reduced form.
It is also important to note that there are young players in the game who are exceptionally good. They have new tactics and come up with top-notch strokes, which often catch you off guard. They play with so much freedom which can pressurize their opponents.
Writing off a Gold medalist will be very wrong as great players have a way of coming back to hit top form, as she currently looks forward to qualifying for the 2020 Olympics championship in Tokyo, Japan.
Written by:Olumide Akinnifesi
