TOKYO — Indian badminton star Pusarla Venkata Sindhu said today that “everybody is beatable” as she targets a medal at the world championships on home soil in New Delhi next month.

Sindhu won the world title in 2019 and also captured Olympic silver in Rio in 2016 and bronze in Tokyo five years later.

The 31-year-old is a massive star in her home country and will be the focus of attention at the world championships from August 17 to 23.

She told AFP in Tokyo, where she is playing at the Japan Open, that she expects to be in the mix for a medal.

“Right now, with the game I’m playing, I think I just need to do a little bit of small tweaks and stick to my game plan, irrespective of who the other player is,” said the world number 10.

“Just keep fighting for every point. I feel that everybody is beatable.”

Sindhu arrives in Tokyo after reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open last month.

Her last title came in December 2024 at the Syed Modi India International in Lucknow.

She believes playing at home will help her again at the world championships.

“There will be pressure, I will not deny that, but at the same time it’s a kind of confidence when you play in your home court,” she said.

“I think it’s really good and I feel confident having it in our country.”

Sindhu is not the only Indian player in contention for a medal next month.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are number four in the men’s doubles world rankings, while Lakshya Sen is number 14 in men’s singles.

“In India, I think after cricket, badminton is the next big sport,” said Sindhu.