Saina Nehwal to play in Super Series Finals despite knee trouble

She is not quite fully there as far recovering from her knee injury is concerned, but London Olympics bronze medallist Saina Nehwal asserted that she would compete in the prestigious World Super series Finals in China next month.

"The Super Series in China is coming up. The world's top players will be playing in that competition. I lost in the

final last year, so, I am looking forward to it," Saina said.

The 22-year-old shuttler was in the Capital along with cricketer Yuvraj Singh, who launched her autobiography – 'Playing to Win – My life on and off court'.

Barring a second-round exit in the Hong Kong Open earlier this month, Saina has had a great results post Olympics, winning the Denmark Open and entering the final of the France Open.

"I did not have enough time to recover after Denmark and France," said Saina who till recently had a tape wrapped around her knee.

"Some times you don't want to play with a tape wrapped around your knee. It's difficult but I try to do as much as possible. In a sport like badminton, you tend to get injured often, especially the knee and ankle," the Hyderabadi added when asked how she copes with injuries.

Saina has urged the concerned stakeholders to open up more an more world-class academies.

"Indians are better in talent but we don't have enough world-class academies and world class international coaches. We need more academies and more sponsors.

"(In India) By the time you are 15-16, parents would only want the kids to become a doctor or engineer. My father asked me and I said want to be a badminton player. He agreed."

As far as infrastructure was concerned, Saina said, "The government is doing a fantastic job by sending players abroad but we are lacking in states, it's not quite like China or Korea."

... contd.

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