A fitter Saina Nehwal is showing glimpses of pristine form. With an active regimen and her characteristic grit, she’s ready to take on the world again
The April three years ago had also brought unbridled joy for Saina Nehwal. Long having carried the weight of expectation of her sport on her shoulders, Saina was reaping the fruits of her labour by becoming only the second Indian after Prakash Padukone to assume top spot in badminton’s world rankings. Much had changed in the intervening years since she first burst onto the scene as a teenager, but she could now look over her shoulder and see a new generation of Indian badminton players competing at the highest level. It would not just be her against the world anymore.
The 2012 bronze medal winner at the London Olympics is no longer her sport’s only medallist from India, nor the highest ranked. She even relinquished her top-10 ranking in recent months, although badminton world rankings seem to change quicker than it takes a pit crew to change a Formula One car tyre. But in her rousing victory at the Commonwealth Games, over compatriot P.V. Sindhu, or even while she took India home for the team gold earlier, Saina displayed a sense of calm and satisfaction after injuries had taken their toll for much of the last two years.
While a lot of experts feel that Sindhu has taken over the mantle as the player to beat from India, Saina has been clawing her way back into elite competition. After a tough 2016 where she exited the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in the second round (which was followed by knee surgery), Saina began 2017 on a strong note, winning the Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold title and a second World Championship medal, before she needed more rehabilitation for her injury.
This story is from the May 2018 edition of Sports Illustrated India.
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This story is from the May 2018 edition of Sports Illustrated India.
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