At 29, PV Sindhu embarks on the 2025 season with fresh changes in her personal and professional life. “Everything feels new,” she said with a smile at the India Open pre-tournament press event, reflecting on her journey as a newlywed. Sindhu is eager to rediscover her love for the sport that has brought her immense success, despite the unusual experience of starting the season without an Olympic medal.
Adding to this fresh start, Sindhu now has a new coach in her corner. She confirmed on Monday that she has begun training under Irwansyah, the former Indonesian men’s singles coach, credited with the rise of Jonatan Christie and Anthony Ginting, both former world No. 2 players. Irwansyah has officially taken on the role of India’s women’s singles coach, as confirmed by Sindhu and Badminton Association of India (BAI) General Secretary Sanjay Mishra.
“I’m training in Bangalore with Irwansyah, who’s now the women’s singles coach,” Sindhu told select media in Delhi. “After getting back to full training in early January, I’ve only had a week with him, but he’s already here for the India Open. I’ve heard great things about his work with Ginting and Christie, and I believe his approach suits me. It will take time to build the bond, but I’m excited about the process.”
Sindhu’s coaching setup has seen considerable change over the past few years. Since parting ways with Korea’s Park Tae-sang, she has worked with several renowned coaches, including Muhammad Hafiz Hashim, Agus Dwi Santoso, Lee Hyun-il, and Indian legends Vimal Kumar and Prakash Padukone. However, this time, Irwansyah will lead a group of players, with Sindhu as the focal point.
“Building a strong coach-athlete bond is crucial,” Sindhu added. “I look forward to working closely with Irwansyah as we navigate training sessions and tournaments together.”
BAI is also prioritizing the development of future talent. Mishra emphasized that the focus is no longer on personal coaches but on building a pipeline of skilled players. “Sindhu is a national treasure, but we must think about who will follow her,” he explained. “Training a group of 4-5 juniors alongside her will give them valuable experience, and we’ll have junior coaches learning from Irwansyah as well.”
When asked about her long-term plans, including the possibility of competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Sindhu stressed the importance of staying injury-free. “People often ask about my next Olympic goal, but for now, my focus is on avoiding injuries and carefully selecting tournaments.”
Despite her accolades—two Olympic medals, a World Championship gold, and more—Sindhu believes there’s still much to achieve. “The fire is still there. I’m determined to win another World Championship medal and aim for the All England title. There are plenty of big tournaments ahead, like the World Tour Finals.”
Sindhu begins her India Open campaign on Tuesday against Sung Shuo Yun of Chinese Taipei. She’s likely to face Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in the quarterfinal and, if successful, An Se Young, the world’s top-ranked player, in the semifinal. While this new chapter in her career will take time to unfold, the India Open offers an early glimpse of what 2025 might bring for Sindhu.