India's badminton stars PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth said Monday they are looking for a consistent run leading up to the 2020 Olympics, starting with the India Open tournament this week.
Olympic silver medallist Sindhu suffered a first-round exit in the women's singles of the All England Open early this month. Former world number one Srikanth lost in the men's quarter-finals in Birmingham.
But 23-year-old Sindhu, who claimed the World Tour Finals in December last year, said she has put the All England loss behind her to focus on qualifying for the Olympics.
Qualification for next year's Tokyo Games will depend on badminton world rankings between April 29, 2019 and April 26, 2020.
Two players each from men's and women's category will be allotted an Olympic berth if they are ranked in the top 16.
"2019, it wasn't a really good start. I have been losing and winning," world number six and top seed Sindhu told reporters ahead of the India Open starting Tuesday.
"It is these three tournaments (India, Malaysia and Singapore) and then the Olympic qualifications will also start. I have to be mentally and physically fit to give my best.
"I felt bad for a few days (after the All England loss) but then I thought it's not over with this and there is a lot more to come. Every time you can come back much more stronger and learn from your mistakes," said the lanky star.
Sindhu will open against compatriot Mugdha Agrey and is expected to face a sterner test later in the week with Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon and Chinese third seed He Bingjiao also in contention.
Denmark's Viktor Axelsen -- top seed and world number four -- leads the men's field in the $350,000 tournament that will see many Indian players in action.
Srikanth, who has endured a title drought for the last 17 months, remains a firm favourite on home turf.
Last year's champion, Shi Yuqi of China, withdrew just ahead of the tournament.
"The results haven't really come my way but happy with the way I have been playing. (I am) working on to be more consistent and looking to do well at the Olympics," said world number seven Srikanth.
UK life sciences sector contributed £17.6bn GVA in 2021 and supports 126,000 high-skilled jobs.
Inward life sciences FDI fell by 58 per cent from £1,897m in 2021 to £795m in 2023.
Experts warn NHS underinvestment and NICE pricing rules are deterring innovation and patient access.
Investment gap
Britain is seeking to attract new pharmaceutical investment as part of its plan to strengthen the life sciences sector, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said during meetings in Washington this week. “We do need to make sure that we are an attractive place for pharmaceuticals, and that includes on pricing, but in return for that, we want to see more investment flow to Britain,” Reeves told reporters.
Recent ABPI report, ‘Creating the conditions for investment and growth’, The UK’s pharmaceutical industry is integral to both the country’s health and growth missions, contributing £17.6 billion in direct gross value added (GVA) annually and supporting 126,000 high-skilled jobs across the nation. It also invests more in research and development (R&D) than any other sector. Yet inward life sciences foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 58per cent, from £1,897 million in 2021 to £795 million in 2023, while pharmaceutical R&D investment in the UK lagged behind global growth trends, costing an estimated £1.3 billion in lost investment in 2023 alone.
Richard Torbett, ABPI Chief Executive, noted “The UK can lead globally in medicines and vaccines, unlocking billions in R&D investment and improving patient access but only if barriers are removed and innovation rewarded.”
The UK invests just 9% of healthcare spending in medicines, compared with 17% in Spain, and only 37% of new medicines are made fully available for their licensed indications, compared to 90% in Germany.
Expert reviews
Shailesh Solanki, executive editor of Pharmacy Business, pointed that “The government’s own review shows the sector is underfunded by about £2 billion per year. To make transformation a reality, this gap must be closed with clear plans for investment in people, premises and technology.”
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) cost-effectiveness threshold £20,000 to £30,000 per Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) — has remained unchanged for over two decades, delaying or deterring new medicine launches. Raising it is viewed as vital to attracting foreign investment, expanding patient access, and maintaining the UK’s global standing in life sciences.
Guy Oliver, General Manager for Bristol Myers Squibb UK and Ireland, noted that " the current VPAG rate is leaving UK patients behind other countries, forcing cuts to NHS partnerships, clinical trials, and workforce despite government growth ambitions".
Reeves’ push for reform, supported by the ABPI’s Competitiveness Framework, underlines Britain’s intent to stay a leading hub for pharmaceutical innovation while ensuring NHS patients will gain faster access to new treatments.
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