India Open: PV Sindhu, with new coach Irwansyah in her corner, says the fire is still there to win the big medals | Badminton News

At 29, PV Sindhu starts the 2025 season with winds of change on her back and it is not lost on her. “Everything is new,” she said with a smile when asked at the India Open pre-tournament press event about starting the new year as a newlywed. She is seeking to find joy again in the sport that has given her so much. The oddly new feeling of restarting her tour without an Olympic medal around her neck. And she will do that with a new coach in her corner.
Sindhu confirmed on Monday that she has recently begun training under Irwansyah, the former Indonesia men’s singles coach who has made his move to India. Irwansyah is credited with the rise of Indonesia’s men’s singles stars Jonatan Chrie and Anthony Ginting, who have both been as high as No 2 in the world. Sindhu, as well BAI General Secretary Sanjay Mishra, confirmed that Irwansyah will be taking up the role of India’s women’s singles coach.
“I’ll be training in Bangalore with Irwansyah from Indonesia, who is now basically the women’s singles coach,” Sindhu told select media on Monday in Delhi. “After marriage, I returned to full training at the start of January, so it’s been just over a week. He’s here with me for the Indian Open. I’ve heard a lot about (his work with Ginting and Chrie), and I believe he is a good coach for me. The way he thinks and approaches opponents is impressive. I’m really looking forward to working with him. It will take time, of course.”
There has been a lot of churn in Sindhu’s coaching over the last couple of years. She has tried out quite a few personal coaches since parting ways with Korea’s Park Tae Sang. There was Muhammad Hafiz Hashim from Malaysia, Agus Dwi Santoso from Indonesia, Lee Hyun-il of Korea, along with Indian stalwarts Vimal Kumar, Prakash Padukone and Anup Sridhar more recently. But the difference this time is going to be that Irwansyah is going to train a group of players, of course with Sindhu as the primary asset. “I am looking forward to building a bond, as it’s important for a coach and an athlete to understand each other. A few training sessions will help us come together, and I look forward to that process,” Sindhu said.
When Tan Kim Her’s appointment was confirmed, the BAI made it clear that he was coming in the capacity of the national team doubles coach, ‘to continue the development of our badminton stars and also work with a bigger group of players and help build a strong pipeline of talent for the future.’
“BAI, along with SAI and sports minry, are trying to avoid appointing personal coaches,” Mishra, the federation’s general secretary, told The Indian Express. “Any foreign coach who comes in will be focussing a group of players or pairs. Sindhu is no doubt a national asset, but there is always the question — who after her? So at least this way a group of 4-5 talented junior girls can train with her, and they will gain the confidence of sparring with a legend. And also, we will have a couple of junior coaches along with this group who can learn from the Indonesian. We want Irwansyah’s main focus to be on Sindhu, but along with that, we want to develop the talent.”
There is one question that has followed Sindhu since Paris constantly: ‘Are you thinking about LA 2028?’ But in the here and now, Sindhu said that the primary aim is to stay away niggling injuries. “After the Olympics, people ask what’s next or if I’m playing in the next Olympics. It’s important to stay injury-free, that’s my primary goal. We’ll be picking and choosing tournaments carefully.”
Does she have unfulfilled goals? Sindhu – a two-time Olympic medall, a world championship gold medall and so much more – said the fire inside hasn’t dimmed just yet. “I feel there’s a lot more to achieve. I have that fire in me. It’s just a matter of time and rhythm. Another medal at the World Championships is something I definitely want, along with the All England Championships. We have big tournaments like the World Tour Finals.”

She will begin her campaign on Tuesday against Sung Shuo Yun of Chinese Taipei and will likely run into Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in the quarterfinal. And if she passes that test, comes the biggest challenge in badminton in the semifinal: An Se Young. The newness in Sindhu’s career might take time to shape up but we will get an early sign of what 2025 has in store for her.

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