PV Sindhu, the accomplished Indian badminton player, is facing a setback in her career as she experiences her worst ranking in over a decade. The latest release of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) women's singles world rankings places her at the 15th position, a far cry from her starting position of 7th at the beginning of the 2023 season. The 28-year-old athlete has encountered struggles with her form, leading to early exits from several tournaments and a noticeable decline in her ranking.
PV Sindhu's journey to badminton stardom has been remarkable, making her mark as the only Indian to clinch the title of badminton world champion and the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic final. In 2017, she achieved her career-best ranking of No. 2, a testament to her talent and dedication. However, maintaining that level of excellence has proved challenging for her in recent times.
The primary reason for Sindhu's downward slide in the rankings is her return from a lengthy injury layoff. While she made a triumphant comeback by securing a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, her form in the current season has been inconsistent. Participating in tournaments like the Malaysian Open and Indian Open, Sindhu faced early exits in both competitions, failing to progress beyond the first round.
Although there were some positive signs in her performance, such as reaching the final of the Madrid Masters and finishing in the top four at the Malaysia Masters, her overall results have been less than satisfactory in the seven other BWF World Tour competitions she participated in this year.
Despite the challenges, PV Sindhu remains determined to regain her previous form and ranking. As she competes in the ongoing Canada Open, held at the Markin-MacPhail Centre in Calgary, Canada, between July 4 to July 9, she hopes to showcase her skills and make a strong comeback. Her upcoming match in the Women's Singles Round of 32 against Talia NG presents an opportunity for her to demonstrate her resilience and tenacity.
In the context of Indian badminton, Saina Nehwal, another Olympic medalist, has maintained her position at 30th in the women's singles rankings, while HS Prannoy, the leading men's singles player, retains his 7th place in the world. Kidambi Srikanth, a former world No. 1, is presently ranked 20th, closely followed by Lakshya Sen.
In the doubles categories, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty continue to hold the No. 3 spot in the men's doubles, whereas Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly drop to No. 17 in the women's doubles. N Sikki Reddy and Rohan Kapoor lead the Indian mixed doubles team, currently ranked 33rd globally.
PV Sindhu's fans and the badminton community at large will be eagerly watching her progress in the Canada Open, hoping to witness the resurgence of one of India's most accomplished and celebrated athletes. As she strives to overcome the challenges and regain her footing in the rankings, Sindhu's determination and commitment to her sport continue to inspire countless women and aspiring athletes nationwide.
