PV Sindhu shares how an impromptu run with dogs helped her rewire her approach to badminton
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu reveals how an impromptu run with three dogs during a walk in Germany helped her rediscover clarity, resilience, and belief in her game ahead of the Paris Olympics. Running has since become her go-to routine
Hyderabad: Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu revealed that an impromptu run with three pet dogs she spotted during a walk in Germany helped her rewire her approach to badminton ahead of her Paris Olympics outing. In a recent PUMA video circulating on the internet, she shared how the spontaneous dash sparked a new routine for clarity, resilience, and belief in her game.
“In Germany, close to the Olympics, I didn’t really feel like I was there. So, I just decided to go for a run. I met a couple of dogs and we became friends. At one point, I decided to tie their leashes to my waist and started running. Without realising, I had run 11 kilometres in just 45 minutes. But after I finished, I thought—wow—this gave me a high. Not just from my sport; running helped me find myself again,” Sindhu shared in the latest PUMA video doing the rounds on the internet.
Since then, running has become her go-to routine to tackle the physical and mental challenges of being an Olympic athlete, from multiple injuries to moments of self-doubt and the relentless pressure of performance. She backed this approach with strong performances on the international circuit, lifting the Syed Modi India International title in December 2024, making deep runs at the Indonesia Open and World Championships, and defeating world No. 2 Wang Zhiyi in Paris. At the China Open, she reached the round of 16, crediting running for giving her both physical strength and mental clarity alongside her on-court pursuits.
As one of India’s most decorated athletes and PUMA India ambassador, Sindhu continues to inspire by blending discipline in badminton with a newfound passion for running—a combination she believes will help her write the next chapter of her storied career. The badminton icon recently brought this philosophy to life in PUMA’s GO WILD campaign, joining Ibrahim Ali Khan and a vibrant mix of runners from varied walks of life to celebrate everyday running as a cultural movement beyond sport.
