Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has begun a new chapter under renowned Indonesian coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama and said she still has the fire to achieve more in the last phase of her career. The 29-year-old from Hyderabad, a former world champion, has worked with multiple coaches but still endured a challenging season which included a medal-less Olympic campaign. Sindhu, who will be returning to action at the India Open Super 750 after missing the Malaysia Open last week following her wedding last month, has begun training under coach Irwansyah, who is credited with the rise of men’s singles stars Jonatan Christie and Anthony Ginting.

“Right now I am training with coach Irwansyah in Bangalore, it has been just one and a half week. Basically he is women’s singles coach and also he is training some young boys as well. I am really looking forward to it. We have recently started,” Sindhu told reporters on the eve of the tournament.

“The bonding is important between coach and athlete, it will take time. We will need a couple of training sessions to come together and understand what he’s thinking.

“I’ve heard a lot about him and I thought he is the right coach for me. The way he’s approaching against opponents, I think it’s really good.” The shift from personal coaches to group training under Irwansyah at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy marks a major change for Sindhu.

“Yes, it will be in a group. Basically when the camp list comes out, will come to know who are the women players there. So accordingly it will be decided.” Having achieved tremendous success including the Rio Olympic silver under the tutelage of mentor and chief India coach Pullela Gopichand, Sindhu later worked with Korea’s Kim Ji Hyun to win the 2019 World championships and claimed the Tokyo silver with Park Tae-Sang.

She then moved to Malaysian Muhammad Hafiz Hashim, before training with Vidhi Choudhary for a brief time. She trained under Indonesian legend Agus Dwi Santoso with the legendary Prakash Padukone also mentoring her ahead of the Paris Olympics and then was guided by the duo of Anup Sridhar and Korean Lee Hyun-il till December.

Asked if the dynamics will be different in a group setting, Sindhu said: “I don’t think it will be different. Initially when I used to play as an individually coached player as well, there were players who were sparring with me. So it’s good for them and it’s also good for me because they make it difficult.

“But I think it will be like a conference where they are also improving. I am also improving. We are competing against each other. So it’s always good.” Before claiming the Syed Modi super 300 crown in December, Sindhu had last won a BWF title at the Singapore Open in 2022. A stress fracture on her left foot following the Commonwealth Games gold kept her away from the court for a long time.

She also suffered a knee injury in 2023 and returned to action in the early part last year. She did reach the finals at the 2023 Spain Masters Super 300 and 2024 Malaysia Masters Super 500 but couldn’t win the title.

“I need to maintain my speed. I need to have my power. The women’s singles game is evolving, and after playing for so many years, I think opponents definitely know my game by now. They’ll anticipate it, so it’s crucial to strategize with my coach, having both a Plan A and a Plan B,” she said.

“At the same time, I must keep working on my speed and continue to improve it, because while opponents may be familiar with my strategy and style, it’s essential to keep changing things up accordingly.” With five world championships medal, two Olympic medals, two Asian Games medal and multiple other titles, Sindhu has achieved success in most of the big-ticket events but she believes she still has a lot to offer and win.

“I still feel there’s so much more to achieve. I have that fire in me, and I know I can do it. It’s just a matter of time and rhythm,” she said.

“I definitely want to secure another medal at the World Championships, and also at the All England Championships. There are big tournaments like the World Tour Finals that I’ve already won medals in, but every time you step onto the court, you always want to win, even if you’ve won before.”

When the going gets tough for PV Sindhu, the star badminton player dives into her highly successful past to seek inspiration to keep going in her quest for more glory. The 29-year-old has in her cabinet every trophy and medal that is there to be won. She is one of the only three Indians to win two Olympic medals, and is also a world champion besides claiming medals at Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. But Sindhu struggled to repeat her international success last season, the medal-less show at the Paris Olympics raising doubts about her future in the sport she dominated for so long.

For Sindhu however, speculations don’t not matter. She still steps on the court with the same passion that has catapulted her to the zenith of world badminton.

“Of course yes,” Sindhu told PTI in an interview when asked if she still has the hunger to keep going.

“I am saying this because when you see those wins, how happy it makes you and how much confidence it gives you, that itself will take you to another level. Seeing wins again and again keeps that hunger going, so definitely yes.

“There are some clips when you are really young when you look at it, it feels like wow, you know, you have done so much and you know why can’t I do it more? You question yourself, and that’s when it all starts, so yes,” Sindhu said during an interaction facilitated by sports brand PUMA, which has signed her as an ambassador.

Sindhu understands that she will have to endure plenty of struggles but she can’t afford to lose hope.

“I have seen a lot through sport, it was important for me to believe in myself when there were days where I was injured and I didn’t know if I can come back and I can be my 100%, which happened in 2015, when I had an injury, but then I bounced back, and I got a silver at Rio.

“My life has changed a lot since the time I started and till now I have had a lot of awards, rewards which has given me a lot of confidence. I am very grateful for whatever I have achieved and when I look back, I can tell that yes I have done whatever I could.” Wins and losses are part of the learning curves. So what has been the biggest learning for Sindhu? “Being patient. That has taught me a lot in life, being patient and wait for the right time because sometimes game teaches you to be patient no matter what.

“You have to keep waiting till you get whether it is success or whether it is the right time or whether it is the right shot… you have to wait for the right time to do the right thing.” Sindhu said self-belief is something an athlete can’t do without, indicating that she is trying to overcome the ongoing tough phase with the same virtue.

“It hits you when you are actually not able to win or not able to get that success or when you are actually at your lows. That is when it is important for an athlete to stay there and keep believing in yourself. There were days when I lost matches which were very very close.

“There were days where I was like why am I losing, what is happening, can I bounce back, can I come back stronger and especially lowest is when it hits you really hard. I was doubting myself but people around me were very very supportive in terms of they were like it’s okay, believe in yourself, you can do it.

“I am very lucky to say that I have parents who are sports persons and they know what it is and what it takes because they have experienced so much that they tell me that this is what happens and you need to be stronger and you need to come back stronger.” Sindhu was candid in admitting that digesting defeats is still difficult for her despite so much success in her career.

“It does hurt, it does hurt at any point of time even though let’s say if you don’t have to prove anything, or if you have achieved everything and what is left you might ask me what else is left? “For me I feel that there is a lot of time left and I can win a lot of tournaments and I can play for so many more years because if you are fit and if you are injury free I think passion towards the sport itself will take you much more longer.” She also emphasised that the relationship between a coach and an athlete needs to be very clear in terms of what is going in your head on and off court.

“A coach needs to understand even if I am not able to say what is happening in the court. As a coach you know he understands what you feel. So it is very important to also have that trust between a coach and an athlete.” Sindhu has a clear plan for the 2025 season when she will compete in select tournaments to avoid injuries.

“There are a lot of tournaments every month. We are out for like 15 days, 20 days. Definitely I will pick and choose a tournament because as you said I need to stay injury free. That is very important. If you stay injury free that’s when you go and give your 100%.

“There are some tournaments where BWF says that you have to play, but apart from that, the players are also smart enough to pick and choose tournaments.” Sindhu said she is still evolving as a player, working on her skills because “the game has been changing so much.” “People have become really strong in their defense so to break that, you have to work on that. You have to also work on defense. Not everyone gives you chance to attack. Because I’m a tall player and I have a good reach, so not everyone will give you a chance to attack, so accordingly you have to make changes.” Sindhu also hoped that the gulf between her and the next generation will be bridged sooner than later.

“I am hoping that the gap closes soon. There are a lot of youngsters I have seen in the Syed Modi (recent tournament she won) doing really well.

“I would say Unnati and also Malavika are doing really well right now. Shreyanshi is doing really well so there are so many. If I have to name, there is Tanvi Sharma also.

“It’s very, very important to have the right guidance. Especially to the parents out there, I want to say that if they feel by putting their kids into academies from where successful athletes have come, their kids will also become champions is not right.

“Every athlete has a different mindset, every athlete has a different style of play, different thinking, so they need to understand that.

To conclude, Sindhu said that what is common between her and PUMA is “commitment towards the sport.”

Stalwarts of Indian sports paid rich tributes to former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who died on Thursday, describing him as a visionary, who had quiet strength and humility. Singh died here after losing consciousness at his home due to age-related ailments. He was 92. “Rest in peace, Dr. Manmohan Singhji. His quiet strength, wisdom, and humility were truly inspiring. I had a brief interaction with him in 2013 – he was kind, gracious, and left a lasting impression. My heartfelt condolences to his family,” wrote India’s ace shuttler Sindhu on ‘X’.

Rest in peace, Dr. Manmohan Singhji. His quiet strength, wisdom, and humility were truly inspiring. I had a brief interaction with him in 2013-he was kind, gracious, and left a lasting impression. My heartfelt condolences to his family

— Pvsindhu (@Pvsindhu1) December 27, 2024

Cricket great Sachin Tendulkar termed Singh’s demise as a huge loss for the country.

“Dr Manmohan Singh ji’s demise is a profound loss for India. His contributions to our nation shall always be remembered. My prayers are with his family and loved ones as we mourn his passing away.”

Dr Manmohan Singh ji’s demise is a profound loss for India. His contributions to our nation shall always be remembered. My prayers are with his family and loved ones as we mourn his passing away.

Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/NO6jB1UZoL

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 27, 2024

Legendary golfer Jeev Milkha Singh recalled Singh’s simplicity and humility, saying he was committed to national duty all his life.

“Dr Manmohan Singh was probably one of the most humble men I had met in my life – a simple and extremely intelligent man. His sense of duty and responsibility shone through. The world has lost a visionary,” wrote Jeev.

Dr Manmohan Singh was probably one of the most humble men I had met in my life – a simple and extremely intelligent man. His sense of duty and responsibility shone through. The world has lost a visionary. #RIPDrManmohanSingh pic.twitter.com/B98HyaMuun

— Jeev Milkha Singh (@JeevMilkhaSingh) December 27, 2024

On Friday, both the men’s and women’s cricket teams wore black armbands during their respective national assignments to pay homage to the former PM.

Earlier, World Cup-winning former cricketer Yuvraj Singh called Singh a “true statesman”.

A visionary leader and a true statesman who worked tirelessly for India’s progress. His wisdom and humility will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his loved ones,” Yuvraj Singh posted on X.

Similar sentiments were expressed by his former teammate and Aam Aadmi Party’s Rajya Sabha member Harbhajan Singh, who described Singh as a thorough gentleman and visionary leader.

“What truly set him apart was his calm and steady leadership in times of crisis, his ability to navigate complex political landscapes, and his unwavering belief in India’s potential,” he wrote.

It was during Singh’s second term that India hosted the 2010 Commonwealth Games in the national capital. It was the first international multi-sport extravaganza to be held in the country after the 1982 Asian Games, also hosted by Delhi.

He had also inaugurated the National Football League’s 11th edition in Kolkata back in 2005 when late Congress leader Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi was heading the All India Football Federation.

Former wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who is now a Congress MLA in Haryana, called Singh a man of “extraordinary wisdom, simplicity and vision.” “Dr. Manmohan Singh was not just a Prime Minister, but he was a thinker, economist and a true patriot. His calm leadership style and economic vision gave the country a new direction, from the 1991 economic reforms to establishing India’s reputation on the global stage.

“There was depth in his humility and wisdom in his every word. His services and contributions to the country will always be remembered. You will always live in our hearts, Sir,” she wrote in her emotional tribute on social media.

Former cricketers Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman and ex-women’s hockey team captain Rani Rampal were also among those who expressed their sadness at his death.

Before serving as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, Singh was finance minister in the P V Narasimha Rao-led government and was the brain behind the economic reforms of 1991 that marked the beginning of liberalisation in the country.

Widely respected for his intellect and grace in public life, Singh had retired from active politics in April this year after over a three-decade run as a Rajya Saha MP.

PV Sindhu (right) and Venkata Datta Sai.© Instagram/@pvsindhu1

India’s PV Sindhu in action during women’s singles group stage match during 2024 Paris Olympics.© AFP

File photo of PV Sindhu.© AFP