Indian badminton star PV Sindhu faced another early exit at the Japan Open Super 750, admitting her struggle for consistency continues despite strong training.
A Challenging Season So Far
PV Sindhu’s journey at the Japan Open came to an abrupt end on Wednesday after a straight-games defeat to world No. 14 Sim Yu Jin. This marks her fifth first-round exit this year, coupled with three second-round exits, painting a picture of a frustrating season for the Indian ace.
More than six months into the calendar, and with the World Championships on the horizon, Sindhu openly acknowledged her difficulty in finding the consistent form that has defined much of her career.
Searching for Consistency
“It’s been a tough year so far,” Sindhu told BWF after her match. She emphasized that her training efforts are going well, but the missing piece is sustained performance on court.
“It’s just a matter of time and the consistency that I need,” she explained. “To just keep going and to maintain that pace and make sure I’m playing those long games and long matches.” Sindhu highlighted the need to return to practice and refine her approach, noting that despite hard work, “sometimes it’s life. So you have to just keep struggling until you get there.”
On-Court Struggles at Japan Open
The match against Sim Yu Jin was perplexing, as Sindhu displayed flashes of her signature attacking brilliance. She showed glimpses of power in extended rallies, capable of putting her Korean opponent under pressure.
However, a high number of unforced errors proved costly. Sindhu’s slow starts in both games meant she was consistently playing catch-up, never truly imposing scoreboard pressure on Sim Yu Jin.
“I’ve given her a huge lead in the beginning. I covered, I came back but then it was already too late,” Sindhu reflected. She felt she was “chasing her more than me taking the initiative.” Tactically, she admitted to hitting the shuttle “into her hands,” allowing Sim Yu Jin to play her deceptive strokes with ease rather than forcing her to move.
Adapting to Modern Badminton
Sindhu has previously spoken about the evolving demands of women’s singles badminton, specifically the shift towards longer rallies and more defensive play. She noted the need to maintain patience during extended exchanges, sometimes involving 30 to 40 strokes.
Her training with coach Irwansyah has focused on enhancing her physical fitness and endurance to withstand longer matches. The goal is to be more patient and keep the shuttle in play for extended periods.
Despite these efforts and strategic adjustments, Sindhu admits that her on-court performance isn’t consistently coming together just yet, leaving her to continue the hard work in pursuit of her peak form.
- PV Sindhu suffered her fifth first-round exit of 2023 at the Japan Open.
- She attributes her struggles to a lack of consistency, despite positive training.
- Unforced errors and slow starts plagued her match against Sim Yu Jin.
- Sindhu continues to adapt her game for the longer, more defensive rallies prevalent in modern women’s singles.
As the badminton season progresses, all eyes will be on Sindhu as she strives to overcome these challenges and find the rhythm that has made her a global superstar.
