PV Sindhu to skip Syed Modi International to focus on BWF World Tour Finals

PV Sindhu, who has had mixed results in 2018, is apparently skipping the Syed Modi International Badminton tournament in order to focus on the year-ending BWF World Tour Finals which will begin on December 12 in Guangzhou, China. Sindhu has not won a single title this year but has reached five finals, including the Indian Open. Due to her performances, she qualified for the World Tour Finals. Speaking to PTI, Sindhu’s father PV Ramana said Sindhu had decided to withdraw from the tournament in order to concentrate for the World Finals.

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“Sindhu has written to Badminton Association of India (BAI) asking them to allow her to skip the Syed Modi tournament. She has also informed the organisers and national coach P Gopichand. It (World Tour Finals) is a prestigious tournament and she will need to be at her peak to win a medal. So at least 20 days of training would be required to be in good shape,” Ramana said. Sindhu has won the Syed Modi International twice in 2012 and 2014.

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Finals pain in 2018

Sindhu has suffered painful defeats in five tournaments in 2018, all in the knock-out stages. In the All England Open Championship, she lost to Akane Yamaguchi in three tough games in the semi-final. In the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Sindhu was at the receiving end of a rejuvenated game from Saina Nehwal as she lost in straight games to settle for silver.

Sindhu’s heartbreak continued as she lost to her nemesis Carolina Marin in straight games in the World Championships final while she lost the Indian Open to Beiwen Zhang. In the Asian Games, Sindhu had a chance but she found the likes of Tai Tzu Yin too strong and once came out second best.

This will be Sindhu's third appearance at the year-ending event. She had qualified in the 2016 edition, losing in the semi-finals. Last year, Sindhu had reached the finals, losing to Yamaguchi at Dubai.

Ever since the 2016 Olympics in which Sindhu settled for silver in a heart-breaking loss to Marin, the Indian shuttler has lost eight finals and many have raised questions on whether she has the aptitude to survive in a high-pressure situation.