PV Sindhu Credits Virat Kohli's Advice for Career Revival After Historic Japan Open Triumph

Virat Kohli and PV Sindhu

Indian badminton star PV Sindhu has revealed that a heartfelt conversation with former India cricket captain Virat Kohli played a key role in helping her overcome one of the most challenging phases of her career before her title-winning run at the Japan Open.

Sindhu, who recently became the first Indian to win the Japan Open and the oldest women's singles champion in the tournament's Super 750 history, said she reached out to Kohli when injuries, disappointing results, and self-doubt had left her struggling for motivation.

According to Sindhu, Kohli responded almost immediately to her message, and the two met in Bengaluru for an in-depth discussion. While she chose not to reveal the details of their conversation, she said his guidance changed the way she viewed her career and her goals.

The two-time Olympic medallist explained that Kohli encouraged her to stop focusing solely on winning titles and instead rediscover the joy of playing badminton. That advice, she said, became the turning point in her comeback.

Sindhu's victory at the Japan Open ended a title drought that had lasted more than two years. In the final, she defeated Japan's Akane Yamaguchi in straight games, displaying a composed and tactically improved performance to claim her maiden Super 750 title.

The comeback was backed by months of disciplined preparation. Working alongside her husband Venkata Datta Sai, strength trainer Wayne Lombard, and coach Irwansyah, Sindhu focused on improving her fitness, reducing weight, refining her net play, and incorporating data-driven performance analysis into her training.

She said taking recovery one day at a time helped her rebuild both physically and mentally after repeated injury setbacks. Rather than rushing back into competition before reaching full fitness, Sindhu prioritized long-term consistency over immediate results.

The former world champion also highlighted how her playing style has evolved. Instead of relying mainly on powerful smashes, she now uses a wider variety of strokes, including drops, half-smashes, and deceptive net play, allowing her to adapt against stronger defensive opponents.

Sindhu added that sports analytics and performance data have become an important part of her preparation, helping her better understand workload, movement, and recovery while avoiding unnecessary self-doubt.

With the BWF World Championships in New Delhi and the Asian Games approaching, Sindhu said the Japan Open victory has restored her confidence and reaffirmed her belief that she can continue competing at the highest level.

Reflecting on her journey, the Indian badminton ace said she never stopped believing in herself despite the setbacks and considers the recent title a significant milestone in her career, adding that her journey is far from over.