Paris, – Indian badminton star Saina Nehwal acknowledges the formidable challenge of qualifying for the Paris Olympics due to her ongoing battle with injuries, but she remains resolute in her determination to revive her career.
Saina, hailing from Hyderabad, has been plagued by a series of injuries, including a persistent knee problem, which has hindered her ability to maintain peak fitness for the BWF World Tour events. Her world ranking has plummeted to 55.
“I get inflammation in my knee whenever I train for an hour or two. I am not able to bend my knee, so a second training session is not possible. The doctors have given me a couple of injections. Of course, the Olympics are near, and it is tough to qualify,” Saina told reporters.
Despite these challenges, Saina is giving her all to stage a comeback. She is receiving support from physiotherapists, but the reduction of inflammation remains a critical factor in her recovery.
The former world number 1 last competed at the Singapore Open in June this year, marking her sixth tournament of the season. In 2022, she managed just one quarterfinal finish in 14 events, and her best performance in 2021 was a semifinal finish at the Orleans Masters.
Saina emphasized the importance of maintaining her physical condition to prevent injuries, stating, “Playing is easy, but maintaining the body, avoiding any niggles, is what is important. Hopefully, with the guidance of physios and Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, let’s see how I recover and come back. It all depends on practice.”
On the topic of retirement, Saina remarked, “Retirement is something everyone has to consider someday. There is no deadline. Everyone will stop when they feel their body is not supporting them.”
Saina also expressed support for fellow shuttler PV Sindhu’s decision to train for a week at the Prakash Padukone Academy in Bangalore, highlighting the potential benefits of a change in coaching environment.
Saina believes that HS Prannoy has a chance to win a medal in Hangzhou, China, at the upcoming world championships. She noted that while many players are performing well, there is a need for a more well-rounded game in the young women’s singles brigade to succeed at the global level.
