Sindhu Changes Coach Again, Aims for Gold at 2024 Paris Olympics

Jayce September 6, 2024 4 0

Two-time Olympic medalist and 2019 World Champion Sindhu has applied to the Sports Authority of India, hoping that former All England Champion Hafiz will become her new coach, with the goal of winning the women’s singles gold at the Paris Olympics.

Malaysian Hafiz won the 2003 All England Championship, ending a 23-year drought for Malaysian players at the All England Open. After retiring, this steady singles player moved to India and currently serves as a singles coach at the badminton academy where Sindhu trains.

The spark of their partnership began after the Indonesian Open. Hafiz expressed his excitement about the coaching opportunity: “Since returning from Indonesia, I have been training her (Sindhu), and maybe she believes I can help her.”

Since Hafiz is not affiliated with the Badminton Association of India, Sindhu needs to apply to the Sports Authority of India to receive Hafiz’s guidance. Sindhu won silver and bronze medals in the women’s singles at the Rio and Tokyo Olympics, respectively. Currently, in the Paris Olympic qualification standings, this gold medal hopeful from India is ranked 12th.

In 2019, when Sindhu won the World Championship, she was guided by South Korean Kim Ji-hyun. However, after their victory, conflicts arose, and following several coaching changes, Sindhu has not returned to her former championship heights.