I think it (appointment of Kim) does really help me in way because every coach has a different mindset and they give input that is good advantage for me, says Sindhu
Badminton's new world champion PV Sindhu credited her improved performance to the new coach Kim Ji Hyun and said working under the Korean has helped her a lot to do well at the big stage.
Kim, the Asian Games gold medallist, was appointed India's coach in April. Working under the watchful eyes of Kim, Sindhu recently became the first Indian shuttler to win a World Championships title when she beat Nozomi Okuhara of Japan in the final in Basel last month.
"It (training with Kim) definitely had a lot of impact. I have been training with her. She had a few changes in her mind. We worked on that, of course under the guidance of Gopi sir (Pullela Gopichand). I think that really helped me a lot. I've really improved lot of skills and have a lot more to do in the coming (time)," Sindhu said on the sidelines of an event here on Sunday.
"You need to come with some new things as other players know your game. So, it is very important to keep changing your game. I think it (appointment of Kim) does really help me in way because every coach has a different mindset and they give input that is good advantage for me," she added.
Interestingly, Sindhu went down against the same opponent Okuhara in the final of the 2017 Worlds. But, two years later, she completely dominated the Japanese to win 21-7 21-7. When asked if the 2017 loss played in her mind when she entered the court last month, Sindhu said: "I don't think it was playing in my mind. I was very much positive. It was a fresh game for me as we had played a couple of times after the loss in 2017 final.
"I was very much alert and very much prepared for the tournament. I was more aggressive and very fast on my feet and that was needed. I was also ready for every point not just thinking about the game but every point was equally important for me."
Meanwhile, Sindhu's father PV Ramana rated his daughter's quarterfinal win against Tai Tzu Ying above the rest and felt the win over the Chinese Taipei shuttler was crucial. Sindhu had to work hard against Tzu Ying. As she was one-set down before making comeback to register a 12-21 23-21 21-19 hard-fought win.
"Against Chen Yu Fei (Sindhu's semifinal opponent), I was confident about Sindhu's win as Chen was not that physically strong. If you keep the shuttle right at the baseline and if some of the point goes up to 13-14 rallies, then you know it gets easier for Sindhu to finish," Ramana, a former Indian volleyball player, said.
"I feel the toughest player was Tzu Ying. So winning against her was very crucial for Sindhu. If rallies are longer against players like Okuhara, Chen or (Akane) Yamaguchi then, Sindhu is confident of finishing well but but Tzu Ying is tricky player," he added.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "PV Sindhu")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}