World No. 3 Saina Nehwal has pulled out of the China Open scheduled to start in the second week of November as she feels that she has to give rest to her right knee which is posing some discomfort now.
“It doesn’t need any serious medical attention but just some physiotherapy. I am really happy that Ch. Kiran is doing a great job and it was because of him I was able to compete in the Denmark Open and the French Open despite the pain,” Saina said.
Saina said that the two tournaments in Europe were very satisfying given the fact that she did not have enough time for training because of the felicitations after the bronze-medal performance in the London Olympics.
“I think I am more confident and more relaxed now after winning the bronze. It was a childhood dream to win an Olympic medal. Apparently, a huge burden is off my shoulders now,” she said.
“The best part of the last two tournaments is the consistency I showed in all aspects of my game. It was a great feeling to win the Denmark Super Series and the semifinal win over World No. 1 Wang Yihan is something which I will remember for a long time though she conceded the match in the second game because of an injury,” said Saina.
“I was at my best in that match and was confident of winning even if it had gone the distance,” she added.
“In the French Open, I was disappointed at losing in the final but it was largely because I was very tired and having problems with my knee,” Saina said.
“Well, the desire now is to keep improving all the time and there is nothing like working on a specific area of my game,” Saina said.
She will be back in the circuit for the Hong Kong Open scheduled in the third week of November.
