Sindhu says pace will decide

After winning her biggest title in six years at the Japan Open, an emotional PV Sindhu said her unwavering self-belief has finally paid off, as she vowed to maintain the same pace and composure at next month’s World Championships, where she will bid for a record sixth medal.

Sindhu produced a brilliant display of aggressive badminton to defeat local favorite and three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 on Sunday.

“I actually had tears in my eyes because it was very important for me to win. Because I was working really hard and focused on myself,” two-time Olympic medalist Sindhu said after ending almost two-year title drought.

Sindhu’s previous title came at the Syed Modi International in December 2024. The Indian star’s win in Tokyo was her biggest win since winning the World Championships in 2019. He also won the Singapore Open Super 500 title in 2022.

“I have no words because it had been 19 months since I won… I believed that I could do it. Even though a lot of people were saying what’s happening? Is it done or whatever? But I still believed in myself and I want to thank my family, my coaches and my support staff.” The win also rekindled hopes of an unprecedented sixth World Championships medal when India hosts the event from August 17 to 23. Sindhu already has five World Championships medals, including a historic gold in 2019, and another podium finish would make her the first women’s singles player to win six medals at the event.

Sindhu said that the timing of the Japan Open victory could not have been better.

“I need to keep the same momentum and keep the same calmness. And keep the confidence and keep moving forward. That’s the aim. And I think it’s really good to win this time and keep it,” he said.

Asked what stood out for her this week, Sindhu said staying calm and minimizing unforced errors made the difference.

“Regardless of these semi-finals or finals or say the first round or second round, I think it was important to stay calm.

“Sometimes when you’re leading you make sure you want to finish the rallies early and you make the usual mistakes which actually happened in the second game. But my coach said ‘It’s OK just focus on the next point.’

“So I let whatever happened go and I focused on the next point, I think that made the difference for me.” The 31-year-old said getting back to his natural aggressive game while moving freely on the court was another important factor.

“I think more of my strength is attack and since I’m moving well and having good attacks, I think it’s important for me to make sure I stop making those unforced errors.” “I think not making too many unforced mistakes definitely changes the game and I know rallies turn into a lot of really long rallies, so yes.” Reflecting on the final, Sindhu said she knew she could not relax despite maintaining the lead.

“It was very important to make sure I remained positive all the time. Although in the first game I was leading and then it got closer because with top athletes you can’t take it easy even when you are ahead.

“It was very important that even though I was leading that every point counted and I maintained the same aggression and everything was the same in the second set.

She added, “In the end, I couldn’t control my emotions. I think it was a really good game because there were really long rallies and I won some of those big rallies, so that was important.”

Sindhu also thanked her coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama, strength and conditioning coach Wayne Lombard, the rest of her support staff, her parents and her husband Venkat Dutta Sai and in-laws for standing by her.

“The people around me who have guided me really well, yes, I’m very grateful. I think that definitely gives me a lot of confidence,” she said.