PV Sindhu’s husband, a sports enthusiast, is now her trusted sounding board

PV Sindhu has another pair of eyes watching her game and it belongs to someone who knows her better than others. Her husband Venkata Sai Datta is a sports enthusiast who follows her matches closely, travels with her to tournaments and never hesitates to share his opinions. He may not be part of her formal coaching, but his insights from the outside have been an important springboard for the two-time Olympic medalist.

Since their wedding in December 2024, Datta has been increasingly involved in Sindhu’s professional journey. He understands the demands of elite sport and, more importantly, likes to tell her what he thinks she could have done differently. Datta also played a significant role in assembling his current support team.

He even found alone in the coach’s box during the Australian Open earlier this year, an unusual role for a husband accompanying his wife on tour. But for Sindhu, it was another way to make the most of his understanding of the sport. He believes that someone on the outside looking in can sometimes pick up on things that players miss in the heat of competition. And Datta, who follows the sport closely, has become one of those voices he respects.

“He played a major role in getting the whole team together and making things work. In a way, I’m lucky that my parents are very supportive and now my husband has also come in,” Sindhu said during a media interaction organized by the Badminton Association of India on Tuesday. Screengrab by PV Sindhu/X

“He goes to some tournaments with me, but I think he also understands the sport and what you’re going through, especially when you’re really down. You need someone as a partner who understands the sport and what you’re going through. Sometimes when he feels I’m making mistakes, he tells me what he thinks and shares his opinions.”

Sindhu said her husband’s input helped identify aspects of her game that she doesn’t necessarily notice in competitions.

“It’s always nice to get input from someone watching your games from the outside. When you’re on the pitch, you might not know some things, but people watching from the outside can see a lot more. His opinions definitely help because he tells me when I make a few mistakes,” she said.

A SMART DECISION WITH A RELIABLE TEAM

Sindhu has also made significant changes to her support structure, bringing in specialists to manage her fitness, recovery and on-court preparation. Her current team includes strength and conditioning coach Wayne Lombard, physiotherapist Shreyasi Sanjay, Heera Mundluru and Indonesian coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama. At the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru, the training programs are overseen by Head Coach Vimal Kumar.

“Obviously I have been playing the sport for a very long time and I have experience. I have put together a new team including my strength and conditioning coach Wayne Lombardo, Shreyasi, my physio Heera and of course coach Irwansyah,” she said.

The emphasis was on making informed decisions about her workload and making sure she didn’t compete unless she was physically ready.

“We make sure we make smart decisions about which tournaments to play and how my body feels. We analyze every day if I feel good and if I’m at 100 percent,” she added.

The changes have coincided with an encouraging season for Sindhu, who have worked their way back into contention after a difficult period marred by injuries and inconsistent results.

Sindhu returned to the top six of the women’s singles rankings after almost four years on Monday. She too qualified for the season-ending BWF World Tour Finals for the first time since 2022.

She started the year with a semi-final appearance at the Malaysia Open and followed it up with another last four finish at the Australian Open. Her biggest breakthrough came at the Japan Open in July, where she defeated three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 in the final to claim her first World Tour title since December 2024.

Sindhu continued to produce encouraging results during the European swing. In October, she reached the final of the French Open, where she lost to world number one An Se-young in three games. A week later, she won the Hylo Open in Germany, defeating Denmark’s Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt 21:12, 21:14 in the final. She won all five matches in the tournament in straight games.

For Sindhu, the biggest takeaway from the season was the confidence that she can continue to push herself and compete at the highest level.

“I’m happy to be back in the top six again. I’ve been working on myself and my game and my whole team has come together. We’ve got a really good team now. The support has been very, very important, guiding you at the right time and making sure your body is 100 per cent,” she said.

She also recognized the importance of having people who understand the demands of an athlete’s life off the court.

“People see what’s going on on the court, but there’s so much going on behind the scenes. It’s important that your support staff understand what you’re going through, not only on the court, but off the court. It’s not easy, but it’s important to work as a team. I’m very grateful to have an amazing team,” she said, adding that her family, in-laws and husband were equally supportive.

Sindhu, who pulled out of the Korea Open this week, will take a couple of weeks off before training for the BWF World Tour Finals, eyeing the Syed Modi Super 300 in Lucknow later this month.

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