Hyderabad: On Sunday, PV Sindhu walked off the court in Paris with a silver medal and a smile. She had lost the French Open final to South Korea’s An Se-young 16-21, 21-11, 21-12 in 61 minutes, but the result told only part of the story.For Sindhu, the journey to the final marked a welcome return to form after years of injuries, disappointments and difficult defeats.“Of course, I wanted the gold. But there’s a part of me that’s just really happy to feel all those long days, difficult losses and endless hours of work finally beginning to mean something.“I’ve missed this feeling more than I can explain,” read Sindhu’s Insta post after the final.Her recent triumph at the Japan Open, a prestigious BWF Super 750 tournament in July, had signalled a revival. The French Open campaign offered further evidence of her return to form.Working under coach Irwansyah, Sindhu has focused on improving her front-court play, exercising greater patience and maintaining control during rallies. Her semifinal victory over Japan’s Hina Akechi (21-10, 20-22, 21-16) in 73 minutes demonstrated her resilience and determination.Against An, Sindhu made an encouraging start, taking the opening game after leading 11-9 at the interval. However, the world No. 1 raised her intensity in the second game and secured her fourth French Open title.The defeat extended Sindhu’s losing streak against An, whose rise to the top has been built on exceptional speed, consistency and court coverage. Sindhu was keen to acknowledge her rival’s achievements rather than dwell on the disappointment.“@a_sy_2225, keep shining. You’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, and it’s a privilege to share the court with you,” she wrote, congratulating An.
