PV Sindhu happy with coach Park Tae Sang, won’t miss Pullela Gopichand in Tokyo
The Indian badminton star also said that she was ‘like a daughter’ to every mentor who has helped shape her career.
Indian badminton ace PV Sindhu says she is happy with her Tokyo preparations under new South Korean coach Park Tae Sang and won’t miss having Pullela Gopichand in her corner during the upcoming Olympics.
Pullela Gopichand was PV Sindhu’s coach during a large chunk of her playing career and was a constant court-side presence during her silver-medal run at Rio 2016. The two have split ways since.
As the Indian badminton team’s chief coach, Pullela Gopichand is expected to be in Tokyo during the Games but PV Sindhu will have her personal coach Park Tae Sang catering to her.
“I think I am prepared and will not miss Gopichand sir in Tokyo. I am putting in about five-six hours with Park and trainer Suchitra every day to keep myself ready for the Games,” PV Sindhu told Outlook.
“Park’s personal attention has helped a lot,” she added.
Though she has spent a significant part of her career developing under Pullela Gopichand, PV Sindhu reckons the former All England champion-turned-coach was a phase in her life. She also explained that change was necessary to move forward.
“Gopichand was with me in 2016 and it was good. Then we had (Indonesian) Mulyo Handyo in 2018 and (Korean) Kim Ji Hyun in 2019. Both Mulyo and Kim left suddenly citing personal reasons.
“Kim was very proactive and was with me when I won the world championship. Park took over after Kim and he has guided me right through till now and will be courtside in Tokyo. So, I will not be missing Gopi sir,” PV Sindhu stated.
Since linking up with Park Tae Sang - an Olympian from Athens 2004 - in late 2019, PV Sindhu is yet to win a title.
A semi-final appearance at the All England Championships and a runners up finish at the Swiss Open in March are the best results she managed under Park’s tutelage. She lost to Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong in London and was outclassed by old rival Carolina Marin at Basel.
PV Sindhu, however, refused to read too much into these losses and remains confident that her combination with Park will click.
“Park understands what’s going on in your mind. When I am under pressure or in difficult positions, he lets me think for myself. He knows when to intervene and his reading of my opponents is fantastic,” the reigning women’s world champion said.
The 25-year-old also hailed father PV Ramana as the ‘unseen coach’ in her life and insisted she was ‘like a daughter’ to every mentor who has helped her grow into the world-beater she is today.
PV Sindhu is yet to officially qualify for Tokyo. However, she is placed seventh in the BWF Race to Tokyo Rankings – a programme that will eventually dictate who makes the cut to the Games – and a confirmation of her berth to Japan is only a matter of formality.
With Saina Nehwal almost certain to miss the cut, as things stand, Sindhu is the only Indian women singles player in line to qualify for Tokyo and needless to say, expectations will be high post her feat at Rio 2016.
“Whatever it is, I have to give my best. Rather than thinking for others, I will have to play well for myself. If I do well, I do well for India and everyone will be happy,” PV Sindhu stated.