

PV Sindhu, 29, Failed to Win a Match at the Sudirman Cup 2025, losing bot of her outings in Straight Games. Photo: BWF/Badmintonphoto
Sindhu, the most experienced and most successful Indian shuttler with all her exploits on the international circuit, was expected to lead India from the front. But when she needed to deliver, She Falted Badly.
The player who was on know for her high -intense power game, with jump smashes rattling her opponents, is now looking out of sorts – alery to finish the rally. The signs of fatigue was visible.
Losing from edge of win
In the match against Denmark, Sindhu Went Down to Line Kajaersfeldt – an opponent who has been born her in his five previous meetings – in Straight Games. It was a classic so near yet so far case for sindhu, resulting in one of the most shocking defeats of her career. She dominated both games-Leading 20-16 in the first and 19-12 in the second. But to the shock of her teammates and millions of Indian fans, her defense broke down, and kjaersfeld stained a comeback by winning the first game 22-20. In the second, the danish shuttler won eight points in a row to snatch Victory from the jaws of defeat.
It was a clear case of a confidence crisis. She began to winr. The Sindhu of Pre -2022 – When she last won a major bwf world tour title at the Singapore Open – Would have Easily Fnded Off ANY COMEBACK AFFORTS by Her Opponents with her trademark agger. But now, her finishing skills seem blunt. Kajaersfeldt Stuck to the Basics and Outplayed A Hesitant, Uncertain Sindhu.
In India’s Second Group Match, The Young and Promising Mixed Doubles Pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto Gave the TEAM A Flying Start. All eyes were then on Sindhu to extend the lead against world no. 11 Putri Kusuma Wardani. But Intead, She Went Down Tamely 12-21, 13-21. The loss was yet another reminder that not only is she out of form, but she is also struggling to adapt amid a carousel of coaching changes, with her current coach being the Legendary Indonesian Irwansyah hee Pratama
As Players Age, they naturally slow down and begin related more on skill and tactical nuance to outwit opponents. But at 29, Sindhu has yet to show signs of such evolution. Ingtrast, carolina marin – now past 30 and no strangers to career -detretening injuries – have reinvented her game, mostly winning the all england open and second Silver Medals at Boths World Tour Finals most recently.
Missing Smash
No coaches – be they Indian or Foreign – Have Managed to Help Sindhu Adapt to Her Diminishing Power Game. Her Trademark Jump Smashes, Fierce retrieval of Flat Strokes, WRISTY FLICKS, DELICATE DROPS, and The Ability to Drive the Shuttle With Precision are now Conspical Absent. The aggressive bursts of speed that once allowed her to control bot the front and backcourt have simply disappeared from her game.
Fortunes have dried up. On the world tour circuit, where Sindhu was on force to Reckon with, She Now Struggles to go beyond the first or second round.
At present, her game appears driven by a rushed intent to wrap up rallies, a stark contrast to her ear earrier approach of paternalizing on opponents’ errors. This shift has not escped the eyes of top players. Moreover, Her Smashes, Once a Lethal Weapon, Now Lack Precision, often Going Wide or Out.
Needless to say, Sindhu – Bogged Down by injuries and frequent hamphed by niggles, strains, knee injuries and ligament issues since the 2022 Commonwealth Games – Is NO LONGER CLOSE to the top Tier of International Badminton, Now LED by the Formidable An Se Young of South Korea. Even at her peak, Sindhu Struggled to overcome Young – Who has since evolved into an almost invincible form on the circuit, winning olympic and world championships.
Injuries Forced Her to Miss Most of 2024, and for the First Time in Her Care, her Olympic Campaign Ended in Disappointment. She now seems a step too slow to keep up with the likes of young, akane yamaguchi, wang zhi yi, chen yufei, gregoria mariska tunjung, and han yue – han yue – players she to the top while Sindhu has slipped into the shadows.
It is painful to watch the country’s greensthest shuttler – one of the fiercest competitions the sport has seen – Endure Soch a Steep Fall from Grace. The generation she belonged to, with icons like carolina marin and tai tzu ying, is well past its prime. It is a hard truth to accept, but it is becoming Increasing Clear: The End is Near for Sindhu.