Saina Nehwal: I got to know what my weaker areas are from my injury lay-off

Saina Nehwal sustained a serious injury to her right knee during her group match against Ukraine's Maria Ulitina and had to undergo a rehab process of more than three months. She made a return to the court by playing at the China Open and followed that up by reaching the quarter-finals of the Macau Open last month.

Speaking about the injury period, Nehwal told the Times of India, "It was my first surgery. In fact, I was crying in front of my parents. Even my mom was not very comfortable with the idea of surgery.

"You know, it's a big issue in India, the whole process that you go through for an operation. The doctors, however, were always comforting us, saying that surgeries these days are normal and there is nothing to worry about.”

However, Saina has taken some positives from her injury stating that it was one good thing to happen because it made her realize about her weaknesses and the areas where she needs to improve. 

"I was frustrated by the initial turn of events, but now I am happy to have faced this because I got to know what my weaker areas are and where I need to improve," said Saina.

"That way Heath (Matthews, her physio) really worked on it and told me not to worry. He said we will make a good programme and we will work accordingly. So hopefully, when I play the next time, I should be stronger in those areas." 

"I feel it's easier to come back after surgery because of the things you have already endured by then. When you go through rehab and when you feel that your leg is getting its strength back and you start playing, that's when it's a bit painful. But the more you play, the more confident you feel," Saina observed.

Saina also said that her coaches were surprised to see her alacrity to make a comeback to the team. "The coaches were not expecting me to begin so fast. Two or three weeks after surgery, I told Vimal sir (her coach) that I want to begin playing. He asked me whether I was sure because someone who comes back after surgery can take up to six weeks after rehab to get back to decent fitness.

“He suggested I could take more time and get fitter. I said, 'Sir, the next big tournament is in March. I would rather play and see how I have recovered, so that's how I was able to compete in China,” she concluded.