P.V. Sindhu is no longer chasing her old self. The badminton ace is rebuilding herself, one title at a time. Victory at the Hylo Open on Sunday (November 1), her second title in four months, has taken her back to world No. 6 — into the top 10 for the first time since 2023. It also ended a long wait for silverware. Before the Japan Open in July, her last title had come at the 2024 Syed Modi International.

The 31-year-old credited the turnaround to her revamped support system. “I’ve had a new team this year and we’ve been working on every aspect. I’m very grateful to them because there are days when you’re absolutely not at your best and you’re sad, but I think as a team they pump you up every single time, get things together and make things work,” she said in a media interaction facilitated by the Badminton Association of India.

Sindhu, who has secured a place in the season-ending BWF World Tour Finals, insisted that age is no barrier to competing at the highest level, as long as rest and recovery are prioritised.

“Yes, it’s important to take care of your body, but at the same time, it’s also important to smartly make sure you make the right decisions. You’re not 20 anymore, and you can’t keep playing tournaments back-to-back. You need to make sure whatever tournaments you play, you need to give your 100%. To do that, you have to make sure you are physically and mentally at your best. You need to understand how to take care of your body. You need to know if your body is not at 100%, take a step back, recover and come back stronger,” she said.

On switching to 15-point format

The switch to a 15-point scoring format from next year will demand another adjustment, and Sindhu believes players will have less time to recover from a slow start.

“We have been playing 21 for so many years now. It is important that we make sure we train and practise that scoring system as well. In 21 points, there was still time. Even if five points had gone, people could come back. But now, once those five or six points go, half the game is over. It is important that you are alert from the beginning. You cannot give away easy points because by the time you realise it, half the game is over. You have to be on your feet every single time,” she said.

Regaining the dominance she once enjoyed is, for Sindhu, not a far-fetched dream but a reality she is building brick by brick. “There is a lot more space, a lot more room to improve and I’m getting there. I’m in a good space mentally and physically.”

She is also happy that she is no longer the only woman carrying the country’s hopes, and praised the likes of Ashmita Chaliha, Anmol Kharb, Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma for making their mark on the global stage.

Praise for husband

Sindhu reserved special praise for her husband, Venkata Datta Sai, who regularly features in her corner at tournaments around the world.

“I’m lucky in a way, where my parents are very supportive, and it’s an added thing that now my husband has also got into this. He also travels for some of the tournaments, understands sports and what you’re going through in those moments where you’re really at your lowest. At the Australia Open this year, he sat as a coach, and I think it’s always nice to know some of the inputs when people observe and see your match from the outside,” she said.