 "PV Sindhu has not won a tournament in over one year now. Image: AP")
After hiring Anup Sridhar as her interim coach, Indian badminton star PV Sindhu has now roped in South Korean legend Lee Hyun Il as her consulting coach till December 2024. Sridhar, who coached Lakshya Seen earlier, recently joined Sindhu’s team as she looks to launch a successful comeback after losing out on an unprecedented third consecutive Olympic medal in Paris.
Sindhu, who lost in the pre-quarters to China’s He Bingjiao at the Paris Olympics 2024, has now bolstered her coaching team by adding former world No.1 Lee Hyun Il. The Korean was Sindhu’s teammate during the Premier Badminton League (PBL). He also won a bronze medal at the 2006 World Championships and a team gold medal twice at the Asian Games.
Both Sridhar and Lee are expected to help Sindhu rediscover her form on the European circuit.
“I’m thrilled to have Anup and Lee Hyun Il joining my team in this crucial period. Anup’s understanding of Indian badminton and his strategic approach has always impressed me, and I look forward to working closely with him,” Sindhu said in a release.
“Having Lee, with his meticulous preparation and legendary experience, is an honour. I’ve always respected his attention to detail, and I can’t wait to learn from him during these next few months.”
Talking about his appointment, Hyun Il said: “Working with PV Sindhu was an easy decision. Our previous partnership in the PBL highlighted her fierce determination and exceptional talent.
“I am excited to contribute to her growth and success in the upcoming tournaments.”
Sindhu is set to start her new season with the USD 420,000 Arctic Open in Vantaa, Finland (October 8-13), and the USD 850,000 Denmark Open (October 15-20) in Odense.
Sindhu’s last victory came at the Singapore Open and Commonwealth Games in 2022. The two-time Olympic medal winner finished as runner-up at the Madrid Spain Masters in 2023 and the Malaysia Masters Super 500 in May 2024.