Former India shuttler Parupalli Kashyap on Thursday labeled two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu as an “underdog” for the upcoming Paris Olympics but emphasized that her reputation makes her a formidable opponent. Despite not being at her peak since returning from a knee injury in February, Sindhu’s name still commands respect and caution from her competitors.

“She’s going into her third Olympics, having won medals in the last two, along with several World Championship medals. Her ranking and recent form might not reflect it, but she definitely has an edge,” said Kashyap, an Olympic expert for JioCinema & Sports18, during an interaction with reporters. “In major events, opponents are wary of her, even if she isn’t in top form. Considering the last two years of women’s singles, she’s a dark horse and an underdog.”

Since her bronze medal win at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Sindhu secured the Singapore Open Super 500 title and a Commonwealth Games gold in 2022. However, a left ankle injury in Birmingham took six months to heal, impacting her subsequent performances. On her return, Sindhu faced seven first-round exits and, although she reached the finals of the 2023 Spain Masters, she suffered a knee injury in October last year.

After coming back in February, Sindhu struggled to find her rhythm, with a runner-up finish at the Malaysia Masters and a couple of quarterfinals being her most notable achievements.

“There are four clear favourites in the women’s singles for the medal rounds, but I’m sure they are tense about facing Sindhu because she’s a big-match player,” Kashyap noted. “Her attacking game style and high fitness levels are well-suited to major events,” added the 2014 Commonwealth Games champion.

Sindhu’s experience and big-match temperament will make her a challenging opponent in Paris, and while she may be seen as an underdog, her capability to surprise and outperform remains significant.