Mumbai: Indian badminton maestro Saina Nehwal vows to return into competitive action stronger than ever after a complete recovery from a knee injury.
The 2012 London Games bronze medallist, couldn’t satiate her aspirations at 2016 Rio Olympics due to premature exit from the game and she broke the news of her right knee inflammation soon after a defeat. “I want to come back stronger”, she was quoted as saying by news agency PTI on Thursday.
She hints that her best may be yet to come. “I am confident that in the next two-three years I can do better than what I have done in the last five-six years. I have to do better,” she adds.
She has her eyes set on the December trophy, as she goes on to say, “If everything goes right, I am keen to take part in Dubai World Superseries Finals during that month…I want to come back into competitive action only after I become 100 per cent fit,” she said.
Her inflammation was taken care of by Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai for broken bone below kneecap, where she underwent surgery last month.
An all time physiotherapist is there by her side for a speedy recovery in the rehab process. A trainer is said to join later this month.
Saina last month dropped four places to be number nine in the latest world rankings. She would miss the coming Japan, Denmark and France Super Series, which may take a toll on her rankings.
She’s well aware that slipping in rankings is a matter of worry, she further brings to notice that she became world number two in 2009 but took seven years to reach the top position.
The ace shuttler says she wanted to ace it in Rio, but it turned out to be a “disaster” due to the throbbing knee pain.
“May be God wished like this, maybe I will become stronger”, the optimist in her confirmed.