PV Sindhu has revealed that a simple piece of advice from Virat Kohli played a major role in her remarkable comeback. The Indian badminton star ended her two-year title drought by winning the Japan Open 2026, becoming the first Indian to lift the prestigious tournament.
Sindhu’s journey back to the top was not only about intense training and physical preparation. More importantly, it was about rebuilding confidence and enjoying the game again after a difficult period filled with injuries and inconsistent performances.
A Difficult Phase Before The Historic Victory
Before her triumph in Japan, Sindhu struggled with form and confidence. She also suffered a snapped toe ligament, forcing doctors to recommend a three-month break from competitive badminton.
During this challenging period, Sindhu searched for answers beyond the badminton court. She approached Virat Kohli and asked how he handled the long phase when he struggled to score an international century.
Kohli’s response was simple but powerful. He told her that he focused on rediscovering the joy of scoring runs instead of thinking only about results.
That advice stayed with Sindhu throughout her recovery.
Husband Venkata Datta Sai Helped Bring Kohli’s Advice To Life
Sindhu’s husband, Venkata Datta Sai, said Kohli’s words became the foundation of her comeback plan.
After the injury, he took Sindhu to Atlanta, where she trained at the Exos Sports Performance facility. However, the goal was not just physical rehabilitation.
“We had to rebuild her joy,” Datta said in an interview with The Indian Express.
He explained that Kohli’s advice kept coming back to his mind. Therefore, the focus shifted from chasing victories to helping Sindhu enjoy badminton once again.
For three weeks, Sindhu trained under fitness experts Wayne, Tim and Rayan. Meanwhile, Datta’s sister drove her to the training centre every day.
According to Datta, the family environment allowed Sindhu to feel like a typical person rather than a sporting superstar carrying heavy expectations.
Sports Science Played A Major Role In Her Comeback
Along with rebuilding her mindset, Sindhu’s team carefully analysed her performances using sports science.
The data collected after the Paris Olympics revealed two major concerns.
First, Sindhu had become less aggressive during rallies. Instead of finishing points quickly, she often needed multiple attacking shots, increasing the chances of making errors.
Second, her judgement of line calls had worsened significantly.
Earlier in her career, Sindhu made only two line judgement decisions during an average match. However, that number had increased to around six, showing she had begun hoping for easy points rather than trusting her instincts.
Recognising these issues helped her coaching team create a more focused training plan.
Fitness And Diet Also Became Top Priorities
Sindhu’s support team also worked extensively on her physical conditioning.
Ahead of the Japan Open, she lost around 3.5 kilograms as part of a carefully planned fitness programme.
Her diet remained protein-rich, with chicken forming a key part of her nutrition plan. However, after winning the title in Tokyo, she finally celebrated with a well-earned ice cream.
The balanced approach to fitness and recovery played a major role in helping her compete at the highest level once again.
Emotional Moment After Winning Japan Open 2026
Sindhu defeated Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in the final to create history as the first Indian to win the Japan Open.
The victory meant much more than another trophy.
According to Datta, every member of Sindhu’s 13-person support team became emotional after the final. Their hard work over several months had finally paid off.
The title also marked Sindhu’s first major championship victory in two years, ending one of the toughest phases of her career.
A Comeback Built On Belief
Sindhu’s Japan Open victory highlights how success often depends on mental strength as much as physical ability.
Virat Kohli’s advice encouraged her to focus on enjoying the sport again instead of worrying about results. Combined with injury rehabilitation, scientific training, disciplined fitness and strong family support, that mindset helped Sindhu return to the top of world badminton.
Her comeback is a reminder that rebuilding confidence can sometimes be the biggest step towards winning again.