PV SIndhu, ranked 18, has reached the semi-final of a tournament on the tour for the first time since December 2024. But, coach Vimal Kumar, who heads the Centre for Excellence in Bengaluru where Sindhu trains, believes the two-time Olympic medalist has a void in the women’s singles circuit that can be exploited.
At 30, Sindhu is a senior stateswoman in a sport that demands explosive agility. Amongst her peers, only Ratchanok Intanon (30) and Yamaguchi (28) remain in the top 20. Carolina Marin continues to battle injury cycles, while Nozomi Okuhara has slipped to World No. 30.
Vimal believes the current ‘gap’ at the top of the women’s circuit provides a window for a Sindhu resurgence. Unlike the ultra-competitive men’s circuit, Vimal argues the women’s field is less formidable than it was five years ago.
“The current crop, I don’t think they are as mature as the previous lot,” Vimal said. (Read: Vimal Kumar on PV Sindhu)
“Some of these older players are still around… but some of these young girls don’t look as sharp. Only An Se Young is really dominating. Wang, the No. 2, has been playing really well in patches. The other Chinese girls don’t look strong to me. There is a big gap at the top level. Sindhu has experience. She definitely looks better than the other girls like Okuhara and Yamaguchi,” he told IndiaToday.in.
