Former World No. 1 Saina Nehwal believes PV Sindhu has proved why she should never be written off, saying the two-time Olympic medallist has rediscovered her best form at the perfect time ahead of the Badminton World Championships.
Speaking on the sidelines of a promotional event a day after Sindhu’s historic Japan Open Super 750 triumph, Saina said the title was evidence that the former world champion remained a force to be reckoned with despite enduring a 19-month title drought and a string of injury setbacks.
“The last 2–3 years were actually very tough. She was trying to come out of the injuries but the way she has come out of it… the Super Series win that she won yesterday after defeating three or four top players here. And quite comfortably, she has attacked very hard. Her attack has improved a lot,” Saina said, as quoted by PTI.
“So, that shows that, obviously, there are opportunities to win. But as you age, with injuries, you have to tackle it well. So, it is stressful when you play at that level. So, I am sure she is going through a little bit of stress and pressure.
“But I think after winning this, she has got her confidence back. And you can never write a champion off. She is always going to come back and do well. She has played at that level for so many years.”
The two-time World Championships medallist backed Sindhu to carry the momentum into the World Championships, which India will host from August 17 to 23.
“We have great players who are, I think, capable of winning it in India in front of our home crowd,” Saina said, identifying Sindhu and men’s singles ace Lakshya Sen as India’s leading medal hopes.
For Sindhu, the triumph in Tokyo was as much an emotional release as it was a tactical masterclass. The title ended a gruelling 19-month wait, during which recurring stress fractures contributed to her slide to World No. 18.
Having struggled for consistency since winning Commonwealth Games gold in 2022, Sindhu arrived at the Japan Open with renewed purpose. Under coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama, she is no longer relying solely on her trademark steep smashes. That evolution was evident in Sunday’s hard-fought victory over Akane Yamaguchi.
Sindhu controlled the forecourt with sharp, deceptive variations that repeatedly unsettled Yamaguchi, whose defence is regarded as one of the strongest on the circuit.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDER?
Her resurgence comes at an ideal time for Indian badminton, with the World Championships returning to India for the first time in 17 years.
However, Saina also challenged the next generation of Indian shuttlers, stressing that isolated success alone will not sustain the sport’s popularity in the country.
“I think a lot of youngsters who are playing well have to come and win because consistency is very important in badminton,” Saina said. “That’s why I think we are the second most loved sport. There is a lot of consistency. So the juniors have to look forward to the next championship.”
With Sindhu back among the titles and carrying renewed confidence into a home World Championships, India will hope her resurgence translates into an elusive sixth World Championships medal.
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