PV Sindhu's return to title-winning form at the Japan Open Super 750 was built on months of meticulous planning, cutting-edge sports science and one piece of advice from Virat Kohli that transformed her mindset during the toughest phase of her career.
After ending a lengthy title drought in Japan, Sindhu's husband, Venkata Datta Sai, has revealed how a conversation with the former India captain became the foundation of the Olympic medallist's resurgence.
Virat Kohli's words changed Sindhu's mindset
During one conversation, Sindhu asked Kohli how he coped with the prolonged wait for an international century during one of the leanest patches of his cricket career.
Kohli's answer left a lasting impression.
According to Datta Sai, the batting great explained that he had to rediscover the joy of
scoring runs, rather than obsessing over milestones and expectations.
Those words resurfaced months later when Sindhu suffered a toe ligament injury and was forced into an extended break.
Despite doctors recommending complete rest, Sindhu remained desperate to return to the badminton court.
After consulting renowned orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, Datta Sai realised his wife needed something beyond physical rehabilitation.
"We had to rebuild her joy," Datta Sai said, recalling how Kohli's advice remained in his mind throughout Sindhu's recovery.
Atlanta trip helped Sindhu rediscover her love for badminton
Instead of rushing back into competition, Datta Sai flew Sindhu to Atlanta, where his sister lives, to remove her from the constant scrutiny surrounding her form.
Away from the pressure of expectations, Sindhu underwent rehabilitation and strength training at the EXOS Sports Performance facility while spending time with family.
According to Datta Sai, the environment allowed Sindhu to stop thinking like a sporting superstar and simply enjoy everyday life again.
The three-week stint focused equally on physical recovery and mental rejuvenation.
Data-driven approach transformed Sindhu's training
Following the Paris Olympics, Team Sindhu carried out an extensive performance review.
The data revealed two major issues:
- Her attacking intent had declined.
- She increasingly required multiple attacks to finish rallies, leading to more unforced errors.
The analysis also showed that Sindhu's line judgment had deteriorated significantly, indicating a lack of confidence in her movement and fitness.
To address those concerns, her support team embraced an even greater reliance on sports science.
Seven wearable devices monitored everything from:
- Heart rate
- Sleep duration
- Sleep quality
- Stress levels
- Recovery
- Training load
Every aspect of her preparation was measured and adjusted accordingly.
Team Sindhu rebuilt every aspect of her game
Datta Sai assembled a specialist support team around the former world champion.
Coach Irwansyah was brought in to reshape her tactical approach, while South African performance specialist Wayne Lombard designed programmes suited to an athlete in her thirties.
Physiotherapist Heera Mundluru, strength and conditioning coach Shreyasi Sanjay and nutritionist Nicol Haria also became integral parts of the project.
Managing body composition became another priority, with Sindhu losing around 3.5 kilograms without sacrificing muscle mass through carefully monitored nutrition and training.
Recovery protocols included infrared therapy, inversion tables and temperature-controlled sleep systems.
Coaching changes helped revive Sindhu's attacking game
One of the biggest tactical improvements has come under Irwansyah.
Instead of overhauling Sindhu's game completely, the Indonesian coach focused on refining her strengths.
Training sessions placed greater emphasis on:
- Net play
- Flat exchanges
- Quick reflex drills
- Patience during rallies
- Creating openings rather than forcing winners
Video analysis also helped Sindhu recognise moments when she rushed attacks and committed costly errors under pressure.
Once she accepted those changes, Datta Sai said, improvements quickly followed.
What's next?
Sindhu heads into the China Open Super 1000 with renewed confidence after lifting the Japan Open title, where she answered critics questioning whether her best days were behind her.
The immediate focus remains the World Championships, but her team is already thinking further ahead.
Despite Sindhu now being 31, Datta Sai remains convinced she can compete for badminton's biggest prize.
"You can quote me on this," he said. "We will go for gold. "
With renewed belief, a stable coaching setup and a data-driven support system behind her, Sindhu's revival suggests her latest title may be the beginning of another chapter rather than the final act of an already illustrious career.
