Sindhu leaves national camp for London, denies reports of any rift

Indian badminton player P.V. Sindhu is in the United Kingdom and will be working on her “nutrition and recovery” after leaving the ongoing national camp organised to prepare for the Tokyo Olympics next year.

A Times of India report, however, suggested that the world champion has been in London for at least 10 days and may have left the national camp following a rift with her family.

It further said that she informed national coach Pullela Gopichand and his badminton academy that she would not return to India for 8-10 weeks.

The report also quoted a source as saying that the badminton star “wants to be on her own and not be controlled”. The source also claimed that the lockdown may have a toll on her and she “wanted some freedom”.

But Sindhu has quashed the report and clarified that she was in the UK to work with the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) on her nutrition and recovery with the consent of her parents and there were “no family rifts in this regard”.

Sindhu took to social media to clear any confusion.

“Why will I have problems/issues with my parents who have sacrificed their lives for my sake. Mine is a very close knitted family and they will always support me. I am in touch with my family members everyday (sic).

“Also I do not have any issues with my coach Mr Gopichand or the training facilities at the academy,” she wrote.

Sindhu further said that she would be compelled to initiate legal proceedings against the sports reporter of ToI for spreading false news and that he should “know the facts first before writing them”.

A day earlier, she took to social media to let her followers know that she was in England to work with the GSSI.

“Happy to be in England and working with GSSI over the next few weeks on my nutrition and recovery with @rrandell86 ! 3 months to Asia tour and this is best chance to work on things and improve !!,” she wrote.

Sindhu has not participated in any competitive event since the sport was suspended early this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She had recently pulled out of the Denmark Open following the resumption of badminton.