India, Aug. 5 -- H aving been through two difficult years marked by injuries, early-round exits and growing doubts over her future, many in the sporting world wondered whether ace shuttler PV Sindhu's best days were behind her. But, Sindhu never stopped believing. Her historic women's singles triumph at the Japan Open last month, which made her the first-ever Indian to win the tournament, is proof that the fire still burns. Now, just days away from the World Championships (August 17 to 23), Sindhu is all set to head into her next challenge with renewed confidence Looking back at the difficult phase, the 31-year-old admits, "If you ask me, was there a day in that stretch where I seriously considered that the wins might not come back the same way? Yes, because the game is completely different now compared to a few years ago. But you just have to adapt and keep pushing. You have to change and strategise at every step." Even through that challenging period, Sindhu says she never lost faith in herself. "There's been a lot of ups and downs recently... A lot of people said 'maybe she should retire, maybe she is done'. But I kept telling myself that I can do it, that I have it in me. And that kept me going every single day. It wasn't an easy phase, but I have believed in myself through it," she shares. That belief was on full display at the Japan Open, where Sindhu ended a long-standing losing streak against Japanese rival Akane Yamaguchi and earned praise for a victory built on tactical adaptability. "In life and in sport, plan A doesn't always work. That is where preparations, mindset and that undying will to win come what may, come into play. You have to switch on the court within seconds and go to plan B. That is what I did in Japan and that is the approach I take forward with me now in the World Championships," she concludes....