PV Sindhu Introduces Her New Coach, Muhammad Hafiz Hashim, a Former Malaysian Shuttler

The two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu said on Tuesday that Muhammad Hafiz Hashim, a former shuttler from Malaysia, will serve as her new coach. In February 2023, Sindhu and her old coach, Korean Park Tae-Sang, called it quits. After parting ways with the South Korean coach, the former world champion began working out intermittently with Hafiz Hashim at Hyderabad's SBA (Suchitra Badminton Academy). But she didn't formally name him as her coach until Tuesday. LET'S DO THIS!!  I'm happy to introduce Hafiz Hashim as my new coach in classic Fabrizio fashion! I'm thrilled to announce that after a protracted selection process.

I've decided to work with the amazing Hafiz Hashim as my coach. Hafiz has every quality I was looking for in a coach, like height, quickness, and an instinct for attack, said Sindhu alongside a photo of the new coach on Twitter. He certainly has the skills as a previous All England champion from 2003. Coach Sidek being his former coach just gives him this aura. I'd like to welcome Coach Hashim on board. With Captain Hafiz at the helm, buckle up folks, the journey is going to be amazing, she continued. When the 28-year-old Sindhu slid to No. 17 in the latest women's singles BWF rankings, Hafiz Hashim joined the team as a full-time coach.

Since January 2013, Sindhu's position has dropped to this one. According to sources, Sindhu requested Hafiz Hashim's approval as her coach in writing to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) last month. And her request to name the Malaysian as her coach through the Paris 2024 Olympics was approved last Thursday. Hashim has already traveled by air to Yeosu, where Sindhu is competing in the Korea Open, from New Delhi. For the Asian Games, the Australian Open, and the Japan Open, Hafiz shall go along with the Indian star.

Muhammad Hafiz Hashim has won several medals as a competitor for Team Malaysia at the Asian Games, Thomas Cup, and Sudirman Cup. He won the singles match at 2003 All England Open, and in Manchester in 2002, he won the gold medal in the singles competition at the Commonwealth Games. In December of the last year, Hafiz began coaching with the Academy Badminton Malaysia after quitting the sport, and in February of this year, he relocated to Hyderabad.

Since Sindhu has had a difficult season thus far and has failed to take home a single trophy on the BWF World Tour, Hafiz's first task will be to bring her back in shape. The talented Indian has battled to maintain consistency since her comeback following a protracted injury layoff following the gold medal victory at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham. In 2023, Sidhu played in the Indian Open and Malaysian open, making a comeback. However, she did not win any of these competitions.

The Hyderabad shuttler, who helped India win the bronze medal at the 2023 Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championship in Doha in February, has been struggling lately. Sindhu has lost five times in the first round and two more times in the second round of the 11 BWF World Tour 2023 events she has participated in this year.