PV Sindhu hopeful of Los Angeles Olympics stint: If I am injury free, then definitely

PV Sindhu said that she has hopes of returning to play for India in the Los Angeles Olympics four years later. The 29-year-old crashed out in the Round of 16 in Paris after losing to He Bing Jiao.

In Short

• PV Sindhu crashed out in the pre-quarters in Paris Olympics
• Sindhu has 2 Olympic medals to her name
• Sindhu hasn’t won a BWF title since the Singapore Open in 2022

PV Sindhu said that she is hopeful to take part in the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. Sindhu, one of India’s most decorated Olympians, having won back-to-back medals in Rio and Tokyo, have not had the best of times of late. The 29-year-old hasn’t won a BWF title since the Singapore Open 2022 where she defeated China’s Wang Zhiyi in the final.

Earlier this year, she crashed out in the Round of 16 at the Paris Olympics. In 2023 and 2024, Sindhu played in the finals of the Spain Masters and Malaysia Masters respectively, but could not go past the finish line. The ace shuttler said that if she stays fit, there is no reason why she cannot represent India in LA four years later.

“If I am fit, if I am able to do it, if I am injury free, then definitely yes I will compete at LA. That’s what I can tell you," Sindhu told PTI from Hyderabad.

‘Goal is to stay fit’

In Paris, Sindhu began her campaign with a straight game win over Nabaaha Abdul Razzaq, after which she got the better of Kristin Kuuba. In the pre-quarters, she lost to He Bing Jiao, whom she beat to win the bronze medal in Tokyo three years ago.

Sindhu was clear-cut in saying that she aims to focus on staying fit and motivated. She also said that she doesn’t have any regrets after not being able to advance to the quarters in the Paris Olympics.

“It does happen at times. I had amazing two Olympics and in the third one, I couldn’t get a medal. But I think I played well. I learn from my mistakes and come back stronger. It’s not just over with it. I am looking one year at a time and now the next Olympics is again four years down the line.

“So the main aim and goal is to stay fit and stay motivated and be injury free. And enjoy what I do.”

“It’s not the end of the world. I can see myself going there for at least the next couple of years now. I don’t hate it or anything, it’s fine, I need to come out of it. I don’t have any regrets, it’s not just over for me. I definitely would want to play a lot more and why not?" Sindhu added.

Sindhu recently played in the Denmark Open where she lost to Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in the quarterfinals.