Lack of coaches not infrastructure biggest problem, claims PV Sindhu

PV Sindhu has become a household name in India having won three World Championship medals, three Superseries titles and by becoming the first Indian female badminton player to win a silver at the Olympics. The scary thing is that she is still only 22 and her journey from a young player at the Gopichand Academy to become the second-ranked player in the world is a well-documented one. Badminton has seen a boost in India, primarily due to Sindhu and Saina Nehwal's success over the last decade, which has seen courts come up in many places. However, according to Sindhu, it isn't the infrastructure but the lack of coaches which proves to be the biggest hindrance for the sport in the country.

While Sindhu has already created a legacy for herself at such a young age, she is adamant that her best is yet to come. 

After briefly flirting with a rivalry with Carolina Marin, Sindhu has formed a new rivalry with Nozomi Okuhara. The duo had split six games, prior to the World Championships match-up, right down the middle. At the World Championships, fans witnessed a modern-day classic as the two players played out the second longest women's game in the history of the competition. While the Japanese emerged victorious in Glasgow, the Indian exacted her revenge with a win at the Korea Open. However, Okuhara retook the lead, a week later, with a win in Tokyo. 

"Okuhara has been doing really well since 2012. When I look back at the game in Glasgow (World Championship), I still feel that if I had won, it would have been something different. But it was not my day. It is not about one particular stroke. I gave everything, it was one point here and there. In Korea, it was one of my longest matches and it was my sweet revenge. Maybe when I meet her next time, I will get another chance," Sindhu concluded.