Jayaram eyes winning return
Ajay Jayaram is hoping to make a strong return from injury as he gears up for the $ 75,000 China Masters BWF Tour Super 100 tournament at Hainan, China.
Jayaram suffered a hamstring strain and was sidelined for nearly eight months.
The shuttler, who was ranked 15th in the world in July 2017, has been battling injuries ever this since the World Championship in August last. He missed events in Korea and Japan and also pulled out of the Denmark and France Open with a knee injury.
He finally made a comeback at the senior national championship early this year but unfortunately pulled his hamstring, which led to his withdrawal from events at China and Hong Kong too.
“It has been nearly eight months since I have competed in an international tournament owing to my hamstring injury. I have thoroughly missed being part of the circuit and it has been a difficult time,” said Jayaram, as he prepares for the China Masters.
In a statement shared on his twitter handle before leaving for China, Jayaram said: “I leave tonight for the China Masters. Not sure what to expect as it is my first tournament in a long while.
“It will be an acid test of sorts for my hamstring on whether it can withstand the match intensity.
“But as always, I am hopeful, excited and looking forward to competing again.”
Dwelling on his injury, Jayaram wrote: “The injury was sort of a chronic tendon issue which is why it kept recurring and has been taking so long. Thankfully, for the last couple of months, my leg has responded better to treatment.
“I am grateful to my physio Anuja for all her efforts and I must admit, it has taken a lot of discipline and patience on my part to keep pushing.”
Jayaram will have the company of young Kartikey Gulshan Kumar, who will face China’s Li Shifeng in his opening round.
I am hopeful, excited and looking forward to competing again AJAY JAYARAM SHUTTLER