Not easy to find another coach of Kim's standards, says Gopichand

Kim Ji Hyun, who played a crucial role in guiding P.V. Sindhu to her World Championship gold last month in Basel, has resigned due to personal reasons.

Kim Ji Hyun played a key role in P.V. Sindhu's success at the World Championships.

Korean coach Kim Ji Hyun, who played a pivotal role in helping P.V. Sindhu win the 2019 World Championships gold, is unlikely to join forces with the Indian team ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, next year.

"Kim informed that she would not be able to come back within the next six months as she has to attend her ailing husband," chief national coach Pullela Gopichand told Sportstar.

"The Korean coach's original contract was up to next Olympics in Tokyo and with herself ruling out coming back to India, it is near certain that she will not be with us," he said.

"Well, the option of Kim joining the Indian team is there after six months but again that might be too close to the Olympics by which time the preparations would have reached a different level," Gopichand said.

"And, it is also not that easy to find another coach of Kim's standards too," he added.

By all means, this is a huge blow especially to the Indian women shuttlers as the Korean coach, a former Asian Games medallist, had by her own admission developed some sort of bonding with the lead players.