India Open: PV Sindhu back to full fitness, aims for World Championships and Asian Games

PV Sindhu’s return from injury gathered momentum at the Malaysia Open, where the two-time Olympic medallist reached the semi-finals in her first tournament since October.

The run has boosted confidence ahead of the India Open Super 750 and a long season that will culminate in the World Championships in India and the Asian Games in Japan later this year. Sindhu said she was determined not to rush her comeback after suffering a minor tear in her toe, choosing full recovery over an early return.

“In badminton, footwork is everything. You need to be quick on your toes, so it was important to address it properly before coming back,” Sindhu said ahead of the India Open. “I wanted to be completely injury-free and back to 100 percent. Playing at 50 percent without confidence can only make things worse.”

Her rehabilitation took her to the United States, where she worked with long-time trainer Wayne Lombard, a key figure in her preparation through previous Olympic cycles. “We started training again about two months ago. The focus has been on overall body management and recovery rather than just one area,” Sindhu said.

“What worked five or ten years ago doesn’t necessarily work now. There are days when recovery is more important than pushing in the gym.” Sindhu also spent time in Atlanta during her rehabilitation, combining structured recovery with family time.

“The break was productive. It wasn’t about complete rest, but about making sure the rehabilitation was done properly.” She resumed full training only in mid-December, scrapping an initial plan to return at the Syed Modi International. Her comeback eventually came at the Malaysia Open Super 1000, where she lost in the semi-finals to China’s Wang Zhiyi.

“Malaysia was my first tournament back. I took it one match at a time and physically everything felt good. I want to continue with the same rhythm and confidence,” she said. With the World Championships scheduled on home soil in August and the Asian Games following in September, Sindhu said managing workload would be crucial.

“Playing the World Championships at home will be special. There will be pressure, but it’s also a great feeling. The schedule this year is packed, so choosing tournaments wisely and taking care of the body is important.”

Sindhu opens her India Open campaign against Vietnam’s Nguyen Thuy Linh on Wednesday, with the match scheduled around 2 pm IST. The tournament is being streamed live on the BWF YouTube channel.

India Open: spotlight on home contingent

India’s leading shuttlers, including Sindhu and Lakshya Sen, will aim to turn recent form into results when the USD 950,000 India Open Super 750 begins at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. Despite home advantage, Indian players have lifted the singles title only sporadically over the past 15 years.

The draw presents early challenges for the home contingent, including a high-profile all-Indian men’s singles clash between Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty. Sindhu, the 2017 champion, arrives in Delhi with renewed confidence following her Malaysia Open run.

India’s strongest podium hopes once again lie with men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. Winners in 2022, the duo have reached two finals in the last four editions and claimed a World Championships bronze last year. After a quarterfinal exit in Malaysia, they will look to bounce back on home courts.

The tournament also provides valuable exposure for India’s emerging doubles combinations, while the move to a larger arena—set to host the World Championships later this year—offers players a chance to familiarise themselves with conditions.