Sindhu’s Japan Open triumph no surprise for Saina: Never write off a champion

Former world number one Saina Nehwal believes PV Sindhu has proved why she should never be written off, saying the two-time Olympic medalist has rediscovered her best form at the perfect time ahead of the Badminton World Championships.

Speaking on the sidelines of a promotional event the day after Sindhu’s historic Japan Open Super 750 triumphSaina said the title was proof that the former world champion remains a force to be reckoned with despite enduring a 19-month title drought and a string of injury setbacks.

“The last 2-3 years were actually very tough. She was struggling to come out of injury but the way she came out of it… the Super Series win she won yesterday after beating three or four top players here. And she was quite comfortable hitting very hard. Her attack has improved a lot,” Saina said as quoted by PTI.

“So it shows that of course there are opportunities to win. But as you get older, you have to deal with injuries well. So it’s stressful when you’re playing at that level. So I’m sure she’s going through a bit of stress and pressure.”

“But I think she got her confidence back after winning this one. And you can never write off a champion. She always comes back and does well. She’s played at that level for so many years.”

The two-time World Championship medalist has backed Sindhu to carry the momentum into the World Championships, which India will host from August 17-23.

“We have great players who, I think, are capable of winning it in India in front of our home crowd,” said Saina, naming Sindhu and ace men’s Lakshya Sen as India’s main medal hopes.

For Sindhu, the triumph in Tokyo was as much an emotional release as a tactical masterclass. The title ended a grueling 19-month wait, during which recurring stress fractures contributed to her drop to world number 18.

After struggling for consistency since winning the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold, Sindhu arrived at the Japan Open with a new purpose. Under coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama, he no longer relies solely on his signature steep smashes. That development was evident in Sunday’s hard-fought victory over Akane Yamaguchi.

Sindhu controlled the court with sharp, deceptive variations that repeatedly troubled Yamaguchi, whose defense is considered one of the strongest on the circuit.

CONTENDER FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP?

Her revival comes at an ideal time for Indian badminton, with the World Championships returning to India for the first time in 17 years.

However, Saina also called for the next generation of Indian shuttlers, stressing that isolated success alone will not sustain the sport’s popularity in the country.

“I think a lot of youngsters who are playing well have to come and win because consistency is very important in badminton,” Saina said. “That’s why I think we’re the second most popular sport. There’s a lot of consistency. So the juniors have to look forward to another championship.”

With Sindhu back among the titles and bringing renewed confidence to her home World Cup, India will be hoping her resurgence translates into an elusive sixth World Cup medal.

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Issued by:

Akshay Ramesh

Published on:

20 Jul 2026 18:50 IST