Hope to be in best form in All England Championship: Saina

Back in action after recovering from a knee injury, star shuttler Saina Nehwal says she needs good match practice to be at her best in the prstigious All England Championship in March.

“I am happy with my improvement. My movements are still sluggish. I still need good match practice,” she told reporters here late last night after losing to top-ranked shuttler Carolina Marin in a Premier Badminton League (PBL) match. Saina had sustained an intra-articular injury (inside the joint) in her right knee and had lost in the group stage in the Rio Olympics. She lter underwent a surgery and was on rehab.

She made a comeback in the China Open, but lost in the opening round in a grueling contest. Subsequently, she took part in the Macau Open Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament where she lost in the quarterfinals.

Saina, who lost to Marin 14-15 5-11 in the women’s singles match between Awadhe Warriors and Hyderabad Hunters, said she could have won the first game. 

Saina hinted that she could next play in the Malaysia Open at the end of this month.