South Korean great Lee Hyun Il roped in as PV Sindhu’s consulting coach

The move came after the recent appointment of Anup Sridhar as Sindhu’s interim coach. The duo will be in Sindhu’s coaching team until December 2024.

Published : Sep 24, 2024 19:50 IST , NEW DELHI - 3 MINS READ

FILE PHOTO: Lee Hyun Il in action during the 2018 Premier Badminton League.
FILE PHOTO: Lee Hyun Il in action during the 2018 Premier Badminton League. | Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL/The Hindu
infoIcon

FILE PHOTO: Lee Hyun Il in action during the 2018 Premier Badminton League. | Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL/The Hindu

Double Olympic medallist shuttler PV Sindhu will have South Korean great Lee Hyun Il as her consulting coach on interim basis as she bolstered her coaching team ahead of her anticipated return to action next month.

The move came after the recent appointment of Anup Sridhar as Sindhu’s interim coach. The duo will be in Sindhu’s coaching team until December 2024. A decision on a permanent coaching team is expected by that time.

Sindhu is expected to return to competitive action at the Finland Open and Denmark Open, both in October.

Hyun Il, a former world No. 1 and Sindhu’s teammate during the Premier Badminton League (PBL), brings vast international experience and a reputation for meticulous preparation. He is a 2006 world championship bronze medallist in singles and has two Asian Games team gold medals in 2002 and 2014.

READ: Macau Open 2024: Treesa-Gayatri advance to second round

His inclusion, alongside Sridhar, was aimed at creating a dynamic coaching duo that blends experience, tactical precision, and deep knowledge of the sport. Both the coaches will help in Sindhu’s preparation as she begins her post-Olympic campaign and aims to sharpen her game for the upcoming European circuit.

“I’m thrilled to have Anup and Lee Hyun Il joining my team in this crucial period. Anup’s understanding of Indian badminton and his strategic approach have always impressed me, and I look forward to working closely with him,” Sindhu said.

“Having Lee, with his meticulous preparation and legendary experience, is an honour. I’ve always respected his attention to detail, and I can’t wait to learn from him during these next few months.” On joining Sindhu’s coaching team, Hyun Il said, “Working with PV Sindhu was an easy decision. Our previous partnership in the PBL highlighted her fierce determination and exceptional talent.

“I am excited to contribute to her growth and success in the upcoming tournaments.” The decision to hire a new coaching team followed the conclusion of coach Agus Dwi Santoso’s contract with the Sports Authority of India.

ALSO READ: BAI to award Paris Paralympics 2024 medallists with total prize amount of Rs 50 lakhs

Recognising the need to streamline her travelling team, Sindhu is searching for a coach who can actively spar with her and contribute to her day-to-day training.

Sindhu also acknowledged Santoso’s contribution to her badminton journey.

“I truly appreciate coach Agus for all the effort he invested in preparing me for the Olympics. His hard work and commitment were instrumental in getting me back from injury and ready for competition. He became more than just a coach; he became a friend and a guide.

“I will miss those early morning training sessions with him and will always look up to him. I will also greatly miss that typical Indonesian energy that made three-hour training sessions more fun, as well as our chats after matches and long chants on flights.

“Any athlete who works with him will be lucky to have such a dedicated coach.”

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment