PV Sindhu's consistency is key says coach Gopichand

India’s national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand believes that as long as PV Sindhu keeps performing at the big-ticket events, there’s nothing to worry about.

Amongst the 2016 Olympics’ silver medallist’s big achievements include gold medals from the 2019 World Championships, the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2016 South Asian Games.

However, since the 24-year-old’s historic win at the 2019 World Championships in Basel, the shuttler has seen a dip in form with quarter-final finishes at the French Open, Malaysia Masters and All England Open being her better campaigns.

But, despite the current world number seven not winning a single international title in the last seven months, her coach Pulella Gopichand is not worried.

“I think like every year in her past, she’s had her ups and downs. But she’s delivered at the biggest tournaments,” the Pullela Gopichand told the Indian Express.

“So, I think it’s not like she’s consistent on a daily basis but she’s consistent at the big events. So that’s what really matters,” the former All England Open champion added.

Looking forward

PV Sindhu’s last tournament was the All England Open, where she lost to Nozomi Okuhara in the quarter-finals, following which the Badminton World Federation (BWF) suspended all events owing to the coronavirus outbreak.

And Pullela Gopichand is optimistic about getting back an in-form PV Sindhu after the ongoing lockdown is lifted.

“I think we can hope for that (Sindhu’s comeback)... The kind of practice we get and how she can shape up, the next three months will see,” the coach stated.

With the tournaments suspended, BWF took the decision to freeze ranks, according to which PV Sindhu is currently well within the direct Olympic qualification range. However, Pullela Gopichand believes that it won’t benefit any player separately.

“You will end up starting from where you left. It’s a good decision by the international body. It doesn’t benefit anybody or boost anyone,” he reckoned.