India Sindhu Eyes Home Medal at Badminton World Championships

Badminton star P.V. Sindhu believes no opponent is out of reach as she prepares to chase a medal at next month's World Championships on home soil, according to a report by AFP.

Sindhu, who won the world title in 2019 and has also claimed Olympic silver in Rio (2016) and bronze in Tokyo (2021), will be the center of attention when the tournament runs in New Delhi from August 17-23. At 31, she remains one of the sport's most recognizable figures.

Speaking to AFP in Tokyo, where she is competing at the Japan Open, the world No. 10 said she is fine-tuning her game rather than overhauling it, focusing on small adjustments and sticking to her game plan regardless of the opponent across the net. Her message was simple: keep fighting for every point, because in her view, every player can be beaten.

Sindhu arrives in Tokyo on the back of a semi-final finish at last month's Australian Open. Her most recent title came in December 2024 at the Syed Modi India International in Lucknow. She expects the home crowd to give her an edge, acknowledging the pressure of playing at home but describing it as a source of confidence rather than a burden.

Other Contenders in the Mix

Sindhu won't be the only medal hope at the tournament. Men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty currently sit at No. 4 in the world rankings, while Lakshya Sen is ranked 14th in men's singles.

Sindhu also spoke about the sport's rising profile, pointing to growing crowds and a new generation of competitive athletes helping push its popularity forward.

This will mark the second time the World Championships have been held in the host country, following an earlier edition in 2009. Sindhu said the event offers a valuable opportunity for younger players to watch and learn from top athletes competing at the highest level.