PV Sindhu to take break from badminton after Paris Olympics heartbreak

Two-time Olympic medallist, PV Sindhu, was knocked out from round of 16 at Paris Olympics 2024.

The two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu has indicated that she will take a break from badminton for the foreseeable future after her defeat at Paris Olympics 2024 in France. “This loss is possibly one of the hardest of my long career,” she said in an Instagram post after failing to win a third consecutive medal at the prestigious quadrennial event.

Sindhu was up against China’s He Bing Jiao in the women’s singles Round of 16. She lost the contest in straight games by a 21-19, 21-14 score. The expectations were high, which weighed heavily on the shoulders of Sindhu, who had won a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio and a bronze medal at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo respectively. 

Also Read: PV Sindhu rues missed opportunity after defeat in Paris Olympics 2024 Round of 16

However, she looked way below her usual best against the Chinese opponent, whom she beat to clinch the bronze in Tokyo. The former World No. #2 could not win a game against Bing Jiao, who dominated for the majority of the match.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by PV Sindhu (@pvsindhu1)

More than the defeat, it was the manner of the loss that concerned PV Sindhu. “It will take time to accept, but as life moves forward, I know I will come to terms with it,” she said in her post on the social media platform. 

“The journey to Paris 2024 was a battle, marked by two years of injuries and long periods away from the game. Despite these challenges, standing here and representing my wonderful country at a third Olympics makes me feel truly blessed,” she further continued, bringing to attention her recent struggles with injury and more.

Furthermore, PV Sindhu went on to give clarity on what steps she would be taking going forward. In this context, she said, “Regarding my future, I want to be clear: I will continue, albeit after a small break. My body and more importantly, my mind need it. However, I plan to carefully evaluate the journey ahead, finding more joy in playing the sport I love so much.”

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram