Image Source: Olympics.com
PV Sindhu, the accomplished Olympic medallist, revealed on Tuesday that she has appointed Mohammad Hafiz Hashim from Malaysia as her new coach. Sindhu emphasized that Hashim possesses all the qualities she was looking for, including a remarkable track record and a strong propensity for offensive play. This decision comes as she prepares for the upcoming Paris Olympics in the following year.
PV Sindhu, in a letter addressed to the Sports Authority of India (SAI), had previously requested approval to train under Malaysian coach Mohammad Hafiz Hashim as part of the Sports Ministry’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), as reported by PTI. Sindhu, currently participating in the Korea Open Super 500 tournament in Yeosu, shared her excitement about the appointment through a social media post in her usual enthusiastic manner. She expressed her delight in selecting Hafiz Hashim as her new coach after a lengthy and meticulous selection process. Sindhu highlighted Hafiz’s exceptional attributes such as height, speed, and attacking prowess that were of great importance to her. She also acknowledged his prestigious background as the former All England champion in 2003 and the added aura of having been coached by Misbun Sidek.
PV Sindhu has been struggling with inconsistent performance recently, and as the qualification period for the 2024 Olympic Games began on May 1, she was in search of a coach to assist her in preparing for the Games. With her sights set on winning the highly desired gold medal, Sindhu was seeking guidance and support to enhance her chances of success.
“I extend a warm welcome aboard, Coach Hashim. Buckle up folks, it’s going to be a hell of journey with captain Hafiz at the helm!!” PV Sindhu’s performance this season has been below par following her return from a five-month-long injury break due to a stress fracture in her ankle that she sustained while winning the Commonwealth Games gold in August of the previous year. In February, the 28-year-old athlete from Hyderabad ended her association with Korean coach Park Tae-Sang, who played a crucial role in her winning the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. The highlight of her season so far includes reaching the finals of the Madrid Spain Masters Super 300 and making it to the semifinals of the Malaysia Masters Super 500 and Canada Open Super 500. However, Sindhu experienced early exits from several events at the beginning of the year.
Navigating Coaching Transitions: From Chaudhary to Hashim
Chaudhary accompanied Sindhu to tournaments such as the All England Championships, Swiss Open, and Spain Masters. Prior to this, Sindhu had trained with Mohammad Hafiz Hashim at the Suchitra Badminton Academy before the Canada Open. While Pullela Gopichand has been her primary mentor as the national chief coach, Sindhu had a brief stint with Kim Ju Hyun on her way to winning the World Championships gold in Basel. However, after Kim’s sudden departure, she continued her training under Park Tae-Sang.
Prior to joining the Suchitra Academy in Hyderabad on a three-year contract, Mohammad Hafiz Hashim, the gold medallist at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, served as a junior coach at the Badminton Association of Malaysia. Sindhu, during her visits to the Suchitra Academy for strength and conditioning coaching under trainer Srikanth Verma, sought the guidance of the 40-year-old Hafiz. Additionally, Hafiz was also the coach of the Awadhe Warriors team in the Premier Badminton League.
