“I missed that feeling more than I can explain”: PV Sindhu after French Open final

Hyderabad: PV Sindhu left the Paris court with a silver medal and a smile on Sunday. She lost the French Open final to South Korea’s An Se-young 16-21, 21-11, 21-12 in 61 minutes, but the result told only part of the story.For Sindhu, the trip to the final marked a welcome return to form after years of injuries, disappointments and heavy defeats.“Of course I wanted the gold. But there’s a part of me that’s really happy that all those long days, heavy losses, and endless hours of work are finally starting to mean something.”“I missed that feeling more than I can explain,” read Sindhu’s post on Insta after the final.Her recent triumph at the Japan Open, the prestigious BWF Super 750 tournament in July, signaled a revival. The French Open campaign offered further evidence of her return to form.Working under coach Irwansyah, Sindhu focused on improving her forecourt game, being more patient and staying in control during rallies. Her semi-final victory over Japan’s Hina Akechi (21-10, 20-22, 21-16) in 73 minutes demonstrated her resilience and determination.Against An, Sindhu got off to an encouraging start, opening the game after leading 11-9 at the break. However, the world number one turned up the intensity in the second game to secure her fourth French Open title.The defeat extended Sindhu’s losing streak against An, whose rise to the top has been built on exceptional speed, consistency and court coverage. Rather than dwell on the disappointment, Sindhu acknowledged her opponent’s achievements.“@a_sy_2225, keep shining. You are pushing the boundaries of what is possible and it is a privilege to share the court with you,” An wrote, congratulating her.