Fit-again Saina unsure where career is headed

NEW DELHI: London Olympics bronze medallist shuttler Saina Nehwal, who is recuperating from a knee surgery and gearing up for the China Open Super Series from November 15, had at one point in time felt that her career may face an abrupt end.

The 26-year-old is working harder to improve her fitness and is not thinking about winning or losing anymore. “It is okay, many people will think my career will end and I won’t come back. I also think somewhere deep in my heart that maybe it is the end of my career, so let’s see how it is. Maybe, you never know,” Saina was quoted as saying by the espn.in.

Plagued by a right knee injury, she was knocked out of the first round from this year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Forced to go under the knife, she began her rehabilitation process with physiotherapist Heath Matthews and resumed her regular training recently under her coach Vimal Kumar.

“I will be more than happy if people think I am finished, it is nice in a way, people think a lot about me, maybe now they won’t. So for me it is just about how to take care of my body and be in good shape because these injuries are quite painful,” the shuttler said.

She further hinted at her imminent retirement plans by saying that she has not set any long term goals for the future.

“I am going to think about the next one year, it is year by year now, I am not going to set a target for the next 5-6 years now,” she said.

Considered as the flag-bearer of Indian women’s singles badminton, Saina has had many ‘firsts’ added to her illustrious career.