New Delhi, August 16, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
PV Sindhu’s improved consistency in 2026 has been built as much through meticulous work away from competition as through her performances on court, with the Indian badminton star crediting her sports-science, strength and conditioning and physiotherapy teams for helping her prepare for the World Championships in New Delhi.
Sindhu said her support team has worked extensively to understand her physical requirements after the demands of a long professional career, particularly focusing on when she can increase her workload and when recovery should take precedence.
“I’ve had the sports science, the physio and the trainer. We all came together. We sat down and noted down what is required and what is needed. We discussed it with the coach and had to improve on those things. And all of that together played a very major role,” Sindhu said at the pre-match press conference at the Indira Gandhi Stadium on Sunday.
She stressed that the work done behind the scenes is crucial, particularly because physical fatigue can affect performance and increase the risk of injury.
“It’s not just the tournaments or people seeing us when we play a match, but it’s behind the scenes what we do, what is required, and how smartly we adapt,” she said.
Sindhu said modern sports-science tools have also helped her team monitor her strength and fatigue levels before deciding on the intensity and nature of her training.
“You have all these gadgets now to record your strength, how tired you are, and whether you can push yourself or not,” she said, explaining that the information can help determine whether a different type of training is required on a particular day.
The 2016 Olympic silver medallist said the approach has produced visible improvements in her movement and overall physical condition.
“Physically, it’s been quite good. I’m able to see the changes in my game and my movement. So, I’m happy that it’s going the right way,” she said.
Sindhu on changing demands of women’s singles
Sindhu also spoke about how women’s singles has evolved during her career. She believes the modern game requires greater patience, particularly as longer rallies and extended periods on court have become increasingly important.
“Earlier, women’s singles was more attacking and faster-paced. But now it’s more about long rallies and staying on court for longer periods of time. So you need a lot of patience in that respect,” she said.
The Indian believes her experience has helped her adapt to different situations during matches, including changes in court conditions and shuttle movement.
“Sometimes there is drift. And sometimes, how do you control the shuttle? It might not go your way all the time. So, how do you adjust and make sure it is convenient for you?” she said.
Sindhu expects the proposed 15-point scoring format to bring another major change to the sport, particularly by increasing the importance of fast starts.
“With the 15-point scoring format, you need to be on your feet from the beginning, alert on your feet every single time,” she said.
She added that the shorter format could potentially encourage quicker, shorter rallies and require players to adapt rapidly.
Sindhu welcomed the continued evolution of badminton, saying changes to the game and scoring system are ultimately part of sport and that Indian players will have to adapt to them.
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