Long before PV Sindhu stood on the podium at the Japan Open last week with tears in her eyes and her first major title in more than two years, the groundwork for her comeback had been laid during a quiet meeting in Bengaluru.
The previous two years had tested her in every way. A lingering stress fracture, a disappointing early exit at the Paris Olympics and a string of poor results had taken their toll. Rehabilitation was repeatedly interrupted, and her title drought, stretching back to the 2024 Syed Modi International, only added to the frustration. Battling recurring injuries and mounting criticism, the two-time Olympic medallist found herself at one of the lowest points of her career.
Looking for guidance from someone who understood the pressures of elite sport, Sindhu reached out to Virat Kohli.
"One thing I'll always be grateful for is Virat bhai," Sindhu wrote in a post on X.
"I reached out to him at one of the lowest points of my career. Injuries were piling up, the results weren't coming, and I just needed someone who understood. He replied within minutes, and we met the very next day."
Sindhu, accompanied by her husband Venkata Datta Sai—who has played a key role in her comeback and helped build a support team with a greater emphasis on data-driven training—spent several hours speaking with former India captain Virat Kohli.
"What we spoke about will always stay between us. But I'll always be grateful that when I needed someone, he was there. He didn't say much, but every word stayed with Datta and me. Some conversations change the way you see things. That was one of them."
Kohli's message was straightforward: stop focusing on titles and rediscover the joy of playing.
"The biggest thing I took away was the importance of finding your joy again," Sindhu said.
"Today, I know exactly why I wake up for those 5:30 a.m. sessions. And I can honestly say... it isn't the trophies. It isn't the wins. It's something much deeper."
Ironically, that renewed mindset led her back to winning. On Sunday, Sindhu defeated Japan's Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 in the final to become the first Indian to win the Japan Open and, at 31, the oldest woman to claim a Super 750 title. After taking an early lead, weathering Yamaguchi's comeback and surviving a gruelling 36-shot rally to level at 11-11, Sindhu regained control and sealed the match. The second game followed a similar pattern, with Sindhu maintaining her composure even as her opponent mounted late resistance.
ONE DAY AT A TIME
The transformation behind Sindhu's comeback extended beyond mindset. Working alongside Datta, strength and conditioning coach Wayne Lombard and Indonesian coach Irwansyah, she lost 3.5 kilograms, refined her net game and developed the ability to endure long rallies against defensive opponents instead of relying solely on power.
For Sindhu, patience became the foundation of the process.
"For me, taking it one day at a time mattered a lot," she said.
"I kept telling myself, 'Let's see what comes next. Let's see what tomorrow brings.' Slowly, I started getting better."
She was determined not to return to competition until she had fully recovered.
"I wanted to be at my best and at 100%. Because if I'm only 50% fit and say I'm alright, go onto the court, lose in the first round and come back, that doesn't really matter."
While others questioned whether her best days were behind her, Sindhu admitted injuries naturally brought moments of self-doubt.
"Actually, I didn't ask myself that question," she said.
"But when you have an injury as an athlete, you do doubt yourself. You wonder, 'What is happening? Can I come back stronger? Will this niggle be alright? Can I give my 100%?' Those were the thoughts and emotions going through my mind because, when you're injured, you're sometimes emotionally drained and mentally really low."
DATA AND ATTACK
Sindhu believes her playing style has evolved significantly under Irwansyah. Rather than depending mainly on her powerful smashes, she now uses a wider range of strokes and attacks from every part of the court.
"It's not just about smashes," she said.
"Variety in your strokes is very important because players have become much stronger in defence. So you need to mix your game accordingly. From both the front and the back of the court, I used drops, half-smashes and clears."
Data analysis has also become a key part of her training, helping her better understand her physical condition and recovery.
"Data has been one of the most important aspects. Monitoring your strain, understanding why you're not moving properly on a given day. Otherwise you might start thinking, 'What's wrong with me? Have I become slow?' That can put you in a negative frame of mind. Instead, data tells you what's happening and why."
With the World Championships set to be held in New Delhi next month, followed by the Asian Games in Japan, Sindhu heads into the next phase of her career with renewed belief rather than doubts about her future.
"More than giving a reply, I just want to say that I've always believed in myself," she said.
"Yes, it's been a long time and, for me, this title was very, very important. It gives me a lot of confidence and belief that, yes, I can do it. And it's not over yet."
Instead of chasing trophies, Sindhu rediscovered her love for the sport—and in Tokyo, the title followed.
