New Delhi: Pain-killers, taped feet and other such short-term fixes were what Saina Nehwal had been dependent on during tournaments after the World Championships last August. A string of injuries — achilles tendon followed by shin and lower abdomen injuries — had pegged her down physically and mentally over the last few months. She was even forced to play events, including the Superseries Finals in December and the Premier Badminton League in January, without match practice before being forced out of action early this year.
But thanks to a core strengthening and conditioning programme (including electric shock therapy) with a new trainer in February, the top-ranked shuttler is back in action, and raring to go, but admits she “needs some on-court match practice” to attain her peak. This week, the World No.6 is looking to defend her title at the India Open Superseries, the event which saw her reaching the top of the world rankings in 2015.
“It was a tough three-four months. It was a serious injury, but I came out of it and am recovering well. It just that it takes some time for match fitness to come back. That’s what happened at the All England and Swiss Open. I was playing with tension (in the nets) that the injury might return,” Saina said on Tuesday.
“I am fit and can move freely on court now, but I am lacking match practice. It’s not about how fit I am, it will all come up to how I play on court,” added the Padma Bhushan awardee.
