PV Sindhu has signed former Malaysian shuttler Muhammad Hafiz Hashim as her new coach.
After parting ways with her former coach, Republic of Korea’s Park Tae-Sang, in February 2023, the ace Indian shuttler was looking for a fresh tactician.
However, Sindhu had been training with Hashim intermittently at Hyderabad’s Suchitra Badminton Academy (SBA) since February but chose to announce him as the coach after the Sports Authority of India (SAI) approved her proposal to appoint the Malaysian as her personal trainer until the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
MORE: Latest badminton odds and betting
What did PV Sindhu say about her new coach?
“After a long drawn-out process, I am ecstatic to declare that I have chosen the incredible Hafiz Hashim as my coach,” PV Sindhu said on Twitter.
“Hafiz possesses all the traits I was seeking in a coach, including the height, speed, and an attacking instinct. As a former All England champion in 2003, he sure has the pedigree as well. Having coach (Misbun) Sidek as his old coach, just adds this aura to him.”
Sindhu is yet to win a BWF tournament this year and has dropped in the women's ranking to 17, her worst ranking in over a decade. After the defeat in the USA Open, Sindhu penned an emotional note as she wrote that the loss had a deep emotional impact on her.
Who is Muhammad Hafiz Hashim?
Muhammad Hafiz Hashim, born on September 13, 1982, in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, is a well-known figure in the world of badminton.
One of Hafiz Hashim's most significant accomplishments came in 2003 when he emerged victorious at the All England Open Badminton Championships.
He played a pivotal role in securing medals for his country in prestigious tournaments such as the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Thomas Cup, and Sudirman Cup.
Following his retirement from professional badminton, Hafiz Hashim transitioned into coaching. He joined the Academy Badminton Malaysia coaching lineup in December, and in February 2023, he moved to Hyderabad's Suchitra Badminton Academy on a three-year contract.
Hashim has also bagged several BWF events like the Swiss Open (2005), Thailand Open (2005), Dutch Open (2005), and the Philippines Open (2006).
MORE: PV Sindhu Korea Open 2023 badminton results and schedule
List: Achievements of PV Sindhu's new coach Muhammad Hafiz Hashim
| Tournament | Year & Medal | Category |
| Thomas Cup | 2002: Silver 2006: Bronze 2008: Bronze 2010: Bronze |
Team Events |
| Sudirman Cup | 2009: Bronze | Team Event |
| Asian Games | 2002: Bronze 2006: Bronze |
Team Event |
| Commonwealth Games | 2002: Gold 2010: Gold |
Men's Singles Mixed team |
| Southeast Asian Games | 2005: Gold 2005: Bronze 2009: Silver |
Men's Team Men's Singles Men's team |
BWF Tournaments
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | All England Open | Chen Hong | 17–14, 15–10 | Winner |
| 2003 | Dutch Open | Lee Hyun-il | 15–5, 8–15, 6–15 | Runner-up |
| 2005 | German Open | Lin Dan | 8–15, 8–15 | Runner-up |
| 2005 | Swiss Open | Peter Gade | 17–14, 15–10 | Winner |
| 2005 | Thailand Open | Kenneth Jonassen | 15–13, 15–13 | Winner |
| 2005 | Dutch Open | Shoji Sato | 15–4, 15–12 | Winner |
| 2005 | Denmark Open | Lee Chong Wei | 14–17, 8–15 | Runner-up |
| 2006 | Philippines Open | Roslin Hashim | 21–19, 21–7 | Winner |
| 2009 | India Open | Taufik Hidayat | 18–21, 19–21 | Runner-up |
MORE: Korea Open badminton 2023: Which Indians are playing and how to watch?