At 29, Ratchanok Intanon and PV Sindhu—former World Champions from 2013 and 2019, respectively—are defying age-related concerns and continuing to deliver on the badminton circuit. Despite being veterans in a sport increasingly dominated by younger players, they remain determined to compete at the highest level.
In the season opener, the Super 1000 (equivalent to a Grand Slam in tennis) in Kuala Lumpur, Ratchanok defeated Indonesia’s rising star Putri Kusuma Wardani 21-13, 15-21, 21-16 to secure a spot in the semifinals. Battling injuries and fitness challenges, the graceful Thai player showcased her resilience against the 22-year-old opponent, ranked just above her at No. 16.
Sindhu, set to start her season at the India Open next week, cheered for her friend on social media, writing, “Let’s go May!!!!” — a nod to Ratchanok’s nickname.
With 728 matches under her belt and 489 career wins, Ratchanok is closing in on the 500-win milestone. Her victory over Wardani was especially sweet, given she had lost to the Indonesian at the Malaysia Masters last May.
Sindhu, fresh off her recent Udaipur wedding, is determined to regain form and push for big titles, with the prestigious All England Championship still a shared goal for both 29-year-olds.
Ratchanok, facing a draw with six players under 25 at the Super 1000, responded to Sindhu’s message with humor and camaraderie: “We have to earn more and more haha… Thanks for listening and sharing life with me… this is a really hard life… @pvsindhu.”
The tournament also saw American veteran Beiwen Zhang retire due to injury, while other golden-generation stars like Tai Tzu-ying and He Bingjiao were absent. Fellow 29-year-old Nozomi Okuhara made an early exit. Yet, the bond between Ratchanok and Sindhu, and their unwavering determination to keep competing, remains strong.