How England training is helping PV Sindhu add new angles to her game
The Indian badminton player has been training with British shuttlers Toby Penty and Rajiv Ouseph in England and is learning from the experience.
PV Sindhu has been bolstering her badminton knowledge in the United Kingdom ahead of her scheduled return to competition in January.
In England since October, PV Sindhu has been at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) to keep track of her fitness and nutrition. She has also been preparing alongside British shuttlers Toby Penty and Rajiv Ouseph at the National Training Centre.
“It’s a different kind of feeling here,” PV Sindhu told the Badminton World Federation (BWF) website. “Different places to train, it’s something new and I am learning new things. Every player has a different game. They have different mindsets and I take different approaches from coaches and players.
“One player might say my defence is weak and Raj (Ouseph) would say ‘Ok, this is what you need to do,’ so it’s really good to get that perspective.”
While Rajiv Ouseph has retired from the game and taken up coaching, Toby Penty last took to the court at the Denmark Open in October, where he went down to India’s Kidambi Srikanth in the first round.
PV Sindhu, meanwhile, last played a match in March at the All England Open and has been out of action ever since. The world champion was set to return in the Uber Cup in October but the event was called off while she decided to withdraw from the Denmark Open due to COVID-19 related concerns.
It’s then the Rio 2016 silver medallist decided to head to England to work on her fitness and get in shape.
“I did not want to stop my training,” PV Sindhu reasoned. “Badminton is restarting for me in January. Hopefully, everything will be fine and I shouldn’t stop my training while I’m in England.”
The Indian badminton ace has her eyes set on the Asian leg of the BWF World Tour, which kicks off in January.
The Asian leg of BWF events includes two Super 1000 events with the Thailand Open on January 12 and another Thailand Open on January 19. This will be followed by the 2020 BWF World Tour Finals. All three events will be held in Bangkok.
“I feel 100 per cent, because of the training and the practicing,” Sindhu said. “I’ve got the time without back-to-back tournaments to improve on a few things like my strokes and fitness level.
“I’m mentally and physically stronger because of the break. I’m fit and fine and really looking forward to Thailand,” PV Sindhu said.