SportsPosted at: Nov 4 2026 5:53PM


31 is the new 21: Sindhu backs herself for World Tour Finals

New Delhi, Nov 4 (UNI) Star shuttler PV Sindhu believes she still has plenty to offer at the highest level, with the two-time Olympic medallist securing qualification for the season-ending BWF World Tour Finals and making it clear that turning 31 has not diminished her ambitions.
The Indian, who won her second title of the season at the Hylo Open Super 500 on Sunday, is currently fifth in the World Tour qualification rankings. The top eight players will compete at the season finale in China from December 9 to 13.
Sindhu’s victory in Germany followed her triumph at the Japan Open in July and a runner-up finish at the French Open last month. The consistent run has also lifted her to sixth in the overall world rankings, putting her back among the leading contenders in women's singles.
A key member of the generation that includes Carolina Marin, Nozomi Okuhara, Ratchanok Intanon and Tai Tzu-ying, Sindhu has continued to compete with the leading players despite the emergence of a younger group on the circuit.
"I'm happy that I've climbed into the top six now. I just feel that if you keep doing well, you automatically start winning and your ranking also comes up. If you perform well and win tournaments, you don't have to think only about the ranking. It will automatically improve," Sindhu said.
“Badminton as a sport has been changing all the time. Staying patient on court is important, and from next year, it's going to be 15 points (per game), so things will be different. We have to adapt accordingly. I'm happy that I'm able to compete with the golden generation from back then as well as with this generation now.”
Asked whether she could regain the dominant form that once made her one of the most feared players on the circuit, Sindhu was confident that she could still return to the top.
"Absolutely. Why not? If you take care of your body, definitely yes. It's just about how you take care of your body. A lot of athletes are playing in their 30s, 31s and 32s, and there have been many who were at the top at that age. So, why not get back to the top again? I'm getting there, and I am there.
"I'm saying this because I know that I can still do it.”
Sindhu's recent schedule has also reflected a more careful approach to managing her fitness. After a demanding stretch of tournaments, she chose to skip the Korea Open and the events that followed in Japan, keeping the World Tour Finals in mind.
"I think after playing a long tour, I thought that I would not be playing the Korea Open and the following tournaments because it was important for me also to get back and relax," said Sindhu, a former world champion.
"It was important to take care of my body, then again get fit for the next tournaments. I'm not young anymore, but you know, 31 is the new 21. So I need to take care of my body, isn't it?
"Hopefully, I'll be there at the World To Finals and I'd be focusing on that.”
The experience of competing for more than a decade has also changed how Sindhu approaches victories. She believes success now feels more rewarding because she has a better understanding of the pressure, mistakes and adjustments involved in winning.
"Yes, winning is much sweeter now because you understand how difficult it is. You understand what is going through your mind and what mistakes you have made.
"Back then, at 21, you would get frustrated and annoyed, and you wouldn't know why something was happening. But now you understand what is going on. Getting wins now is much sweeter.
"Back then, everything was new, but the feeling of having those butterflies when you win matches and tournaments is still the same. I think the energy is the same, the passion is the same. It's always nice to get those wins and victories and be back in top form. It feels very nice.”
Sindhu said her continued enjoyment of badminton remains central to her motivation, but added that competing at the highest level requires careful planning rather than playing an exhausting schedule.
“When you have that passion for the sport and you enjoy playing, you just go with the flow. It's important to take care of your body and make sure you take the right decisions smartly.
“It's not that you are 20 anymore and can keep playing tournaments back-to-back. Whatever tournaments you play, you have to give 100 per cent, and for that you need to be physically and mentally at your best…"
She also credited her support team for helping her assess her fitness and decide when to compete, train or take a break.
“Obviously, I've been playing the sport for a very long time, and I've had my experiences. Recently, I've put together a new team, including my strength and conditioning coach Wayne Lombard, Shreyasi (Sanjay), my physiotherapist, Heera (Mundluru) and, of course, my coach Irwansyah (Adi Pratama).
“We make sure we take smart decisions about which tournaments to play and how my body is feeling. Every single day, we analyse whether I'm feeling good and whether I'm at 100 per cent.
“If I'm not, we make sure to change the schedule and work according to my body condition. That way, it's been really working out."UNI TB AAB
Tags: #31 is the new 21: Sindhu backs herself for World Tour Finals
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