Saina Nehwal removed from completed: I wish to win extra, need to cease taking part in if I hearken to naysayers

India Open 2023: Speaking to reporters after successful her opening spherical in New Delhi, Saina Nehwal stated she is motivated to hold on and return to successful methods once more. The 32-year-old stated she is able to face harder challenges, having overcome persistent damage points.

Saina Nehwal obtained off to a successful begin at India Open 2023 (Courtesy: BAI Media)

By India Today Web Desk: London Olympic bronze medalist Saina Nehwal isn’t achieved but. She will not be the menacing determine on the circuit any longer, however the need to win and style success is burning brilliant, as soon as once more. The 32-year-old, who final gained a title on the Badminton World Federation Tour in January 2019, is keen to struggle battles on and off the courtroom and bow out on a excessive.

The former World No. 1 ended an undesirable streak on Tuesday, January 17 in New Delhi, one in all her favorite searching grounds. Saina notched up the primary win in 6 begins on the tour, overcoming a tough take a look at towards higher-ranked Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark within the opening spherical of girls’s singles at India Open 2023 Super 750 match. It was her first win in 3 conferences towards the World No. 24.

Saina was extra relieved than completely happy, including {that a} streak of losses affected her mentally. The feeling of a win got here as an enormous enhance to Saina, who added that she is slowly however absolutely feeling higher on the courtroom, when it comes to her motion and health.

Saina has been coping with recurring knee damage points over the past 2 years and success has been eluding her. But, a superb begin at India Open, which she has gained twice in her glittering profession (2010 and 2015) has instilled the idea that she will compete with the perfect.

Saina has a troublesome take a look at within the 2nd spherical towards Olympic champion Chen Yufei of China however the veteran Indian shuttler is hopeful of doing higher and giving it her all towards high 10 opponents within the close to future.

“I am happy that I played without a knee issue. The last 2-3 months were a gradual improvement. Today, I could see that I worked on my stamina and worked on my overall hitting game as well,” Saina informed reporters in New Delhi after her first-round win at India Open.

“I have been getting really tough players in the first round. But, I have to win something to get to the better rounds. Otherwise, I have to face them again and again. All 32 players are playing extremely well. Somewhere, I had to pull out wins and get my confidence back. I want to give my best against the top 10 players,” the World No. 31 added.

“With the coverage, shots, and speed today, I think I can match the top players very well.”

‘PEOPLE SPEAKING IS NATURAL’

Saina Nehwal keen to struggle on (BAI Media)

Saina, who didn’t make the Tokyo Olympics qualification, has been written off umpteen instances however the star shuttler has consistently saved proving naysayers incorrect. It’s no completely different at the same time as she heads into the twilight of her profession.

The 2-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist stated she has been capable of finding options to her damage points within the current previous and is feeling significantly better firstly of the brand new season.

“People speak about not performing. That’s natural. For me, if I don’t fight it out… the issue was small, it wasn’t something that I could not fight. But, if I think about people, maybe I have to stop playing badminton. I have to find a solution. If I can, very good, if I can’t, then I have to stop playing. There’s always that option.

“I simply thought I ought to discover a answer. It was not an enormous damage that I couldn’t discover a answer for. When I really feel it may well’t be achieved, I’ll quit,” she added.

NO TO COACHING ROLES

Shedding light on the mental battle that she has had to overcome, Saina added: “Finally, I’ve to struggle myself. The thoughts typically stops working after shedding so many matches. It’s like ‘you’re shedding, you’re shedding’. But then I assumed ‘it’s okay, you need to play for 21 factors’.”

With the Paris Olympics a year away, Saina has a lot of catching up to do. Having deep runs at the highest levels can be a start for the star shuttler, who is hopeful of playing on the tour for a couple more years.

More importantly, Saina said she still has the hunger to win and create good memories on the tour while revealing she is not cut-out for coaching roles in the future.

“I wish to win extra. Winning can also be good. You wish to hold attaining until you possibly can. I do not suppose I’ll turn into a coach. I haven’t got that motivation or that feeling that I can turn into a coach.

“I want to play a few more years and let’s see how it goes,” she added.

Published On:

Jan 17, 2023