I nonetheless suppose [Sindhu] may be aggressive. It’s about how environment friendly she turns into: Santoso

Hopeful: Santoso believes that badminton was not nearly bodily prowess — psychological power is essential. | PHOTO : SUDHAKARA JAIN

 There isn’t any sugar-coating the truth that P.V. Sindhu isn’t the participant she as soon as was. The 29-year-old double Olympic medallist didn’t win a trophy in 2023, had a disappointing time on the 2024 Paris Video games and ended her two-year title-drought solely on the Syed Modi Worldwide late final yr.

Nonetheless, Agus Dwi Santoso, the famed Indonesian coach who skilled Sindhu within the lead as much as the Paris Olympics, and somebody who has skilled the elite in Thailand, Korea and again dwelling, felt all was not misplaced for one among India’s sporting greats.

“Sindhu is not my participant so I can not discuss freely, however once I see, it’s all about focus and precedence,” the 59-year-old stated after a coaching session at Recreation Match Academy within the metropolis’s suburbs the place he heads the high-performance teaching program. “I nonetheless suppose she may be aggressive. It’s about how environment friendly she turns into.”

Santoso cited present Badminton World Federation president Poul-Erik Hoyer Larsen from Denmark, who gained the lads’s singles gold medal on the 1996 Atlanta Video games at almost 31, to focus on how badminton was not nearly bodily prowess.

“It’s also concerning the thoughts,” Agus opined. “It’s possible you’ll be a great attacking participant, however in case you are not sturdy within the thoughts, then… A very good instance is Poul-Erik Hoyer Larsen. Again then solely these within the 20s had been successful. However how did he win?

“He was mentally very sturdy. It was very troublesome to get even one level from him. So methods to beat such gamers? It’s important to assault the thoughts.”

Santoso was nonetheless proud of India’s expertise pool and felt the provision line of champions would lengthy proceed. “I see plenty of good younger expertise. Particularly in girls’s singles, in comparison with different nations, India has plenty of potential.”

“However only some turn into world’s [best] gamers. How? The tradition has to vary. Indians had been born intelligent. However they aren’t capable of handle ache, sorrow and struggling. Many gamers need the shortest path to success. They don’t see it like a course of. However you need to [aspire to] be one of the best skilled [there is].”