World No. 3 Wang Zhi Yi has acknowledged that her previous encounters with India's PV Sindhu weighed heavily on her mentally, and the Chinese shuttler says she is determined to reset that approach ahead of a potential clash at the BWF World Championships in New Delhi. Wang made the remarks at the Indira Gandhi Stadium on Saturday, on the sidelines of the tournament.

Wang on the Sindhu Factor

'I think I had too much on my mind before playing against Sindhu. But I think she is a good player; she just won the Japan Open title, and I think she has been playing better and better, so it's going to be tough, but I just focus on my first match,' Wang told reporters.

Sindhu's recent form — capped by her Japan Open title — has only added to the challenge. Wang, however, was careful not to look beyond her opening-round assignment against USA's Beiwen Zhang, insisting that tunnel vision on the immediate match is her priority.

Title Ambition Without the Pressure

The World Championships crown has eluded Wang so far, yet she says she is consciously keeping that thought at arm's length. 'I don't want to think about the result or any title; I just want to focus on the process,' she said. It is a mental recalibration she has been working on — one that also informed a tactical rethink after she finally overcame Olympic champion An Se Young at the All England Open earlier this year.

'I want to try to make a little bit of change tactically. I feel like I am working pretty well, but on court it doesn't work, so hopefully I can do better,' Wang noted. The admission is significant: even at the elite level, the gap between training-ground execution and match-day delivery remains a live challenge.

Adapting to the Revamped Indira Gandhi Stadium

Beyond the mental game, Wang flagged a practical concern — the playing conditions inside the newly revamped Indira Gandhi Stadium. After her first training session, she detected air movement on court that could affect shuttle flight.

'For sure, I think the stadium has changed a lot; that's very good. I just finished my training; I feel like there was a little bit of wind on the court, so we need to get used to the conditions,' she said. Shuttle drift is a known variable at large indoor arenas, and acclimatisation in early rounds can prove decisive in the knockout stages.

What to Watch at the World Championships

Wang's opening match against Beiwen Zhang sets the stage for what could be a high-stakes quarter or semi-final showdown with Sindhu, should both advance. Sindhu, playing on home soil in New Delhi, will carry crowd support as an additional factor. Wang's ability to shed the mental baggage she has described — and execute her revised tactical blueprint — will determine how deep her campaign runs.

With the World Championships title still on her wishlist, Wang's message heading into the tournament was unambiguous: 'I just want to focus on myself and not on the past. I want to give my best and win the title.'