Saina Nehwal to skip Badminton Asia Team Championships

Hyderabad: Saina Nehwal, who has just started her comeback from a foot injury, will not turn up at the week-long Badminton Asia Team Championships that begin here on Monday. The big question during the meet and greet with members of the Indian team on Friday was whether the World No.2 would be in action. There was much ambiguity in the responses though even as Saina’s name figured in the team list.

However, late in the evening, Saina’s coach Vimal Kumar confirmed to this newspaper that the star will skip the event. “She won’t be playing at the Badminton Asia Team Championships. She had informed the Badminton Association of India two weeks ago regarding the same. She has started her workouts and should be ready for competitions by this month-end. Her first competition will be the All England in March,” he said.

On being asked if her absence would hurt India’s chances at the meet, National coach Pullela Gopi Chand was optimistic. “Saina is a very strong player. Her services will be missed but we have the likes of P.V. Sindhu and Ruthvika Shivani who are up for the challenge. Other girls have also been doing well. Hopefully we will put up a strong show,” he said. Meanwhile, Parupalli Kashyap, who had pulled out of the South Asian Games due to an injury, will also give the Asian meet a miss. “Kashyap will not be playing but with the players like Ajay Jayaram, Prannoy H.S. we have a great chance of winning a medal,” Gopi said.

Asked to name favourites, Gopi said, “For me it is Japan and China. Having said that, we also have a strong team and will put our best for forward.” Saina’s absence apart, ace women’s doubles player Jwala Gutta sounded upbeat. “We are raring to go,” she enthused. “Ashwini (Ponnappa) and myself have done really well against the Japanese and look to continue the same. Hopefully we will make the most of the home advantage,” she added.