Saina Nehwal Praises PV Sindhu's Skills and Fitness Ahead of Ranking Changes

In a recent statement, former badminton champion Saina Nehwal highlighted the strong attacking styles she shares with PV Sindhu, emphasizing Sindhu's height as a key advantage. Nehwal expressed optimism about Sindhu's fitness and performance while discussing the upcoming changes to the ranking points system that could benefit players. She also reflected on the importance of a resilient mindset in their success. Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medalist, recently faced a quarterfinal exit at the Thailand Open and has withdrawn from the Malaysia Masters 2026, a tournament she previously won twice. Read on to discover more about their insights and future prospects.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 25, 2026, 01:59 IST

Nehwal Highlights Sindhu's Strengths

Panchkula (Haryana) [India], May 24: Saina Nehwal, the former Indian badminton star, has emphasized the strong attacking capabilities shared between her and PV Sindhu, noting that Sindhu's height provides her with a significant advantage.

Having retired from professional play, Nehwal remarked on Sindhu's impressive fitness levels and expressed her hopes for Sindhu to maintain her high performance in future competitions.

Nehwal also mentioned the upcoming adjustments to the ranking points system, specifically the 15×3 format, which she believes will be beneficial for players.

She underscored the importance of a resilient mindset, stating, "Both Sindhu and I have a strong attacking style. Her height is a major asset, allowing her to reach quickly. Fortunately, she has kept herself in great shape... I truly hope she continues to excel as she has in the past," Nehwal shared with the media.

Additionally, she pointed out that the new ranking points system set to be implemented next year will certainly aid players. "The key factor that helped both Sindhu and me was our 'never-give-up' attitude; our skills in rallying and smashing were exceptional," she added.

Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medalist, recently participated in the Thailand Open, where she was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Akane Yamaguchi.

After the Thailand Open, Sindhu opted out of the Malaysia Masters 2026, a tournament she previously won in 2013 and 2016.