Saina Nehwal pulls out of Syed Modi GPG

After suffering from an Achilles tendon injury on the right leg in November, Indian badminton ace Saina Nehwal has been struggling with her fitness for the last couple of months. In a letter to the organisers of the tournament, Saina asked for time to recover from the illness and to get back into shape.

“I need some time to recover and get back into shape,” Saina said, reported The Hindu.

Even in the recently concluded Premier Badminton League (2016), the 2012 Olympics bronze medallist was seen visibly struggling in the semi-final match against Chinese shuttler Han Li.

“First of all, I have to make myself strong and fit and then I can think of what I can do in tournaments. I am happy that I am able to play in the PBL even without training. I am in bad shape, but I am happy to pull off some matches,” Saina had said during PBL.

The World No.2’s decision to opt out of the tournament will also cost her some valuable points in her race for the top spot with World No.1 Carolina Marin also giving the tournament a miss.

Saina’s withdrawal will place third seed PV Sindhu as the favourite for the title after clinching the Malaysia Masters last week. Sindhu’s biggest rival at the tournament will once again be South Korean second seed Sung Ji Hyun, who she defeated in the semi-final of Malaysia Masters.

In the Men’s Singles, World No.11 Tommy Sugiarto also opted out of the tournament on Monday not giving any specific reason for his absence.  

(Read: A Saina fan's plea to India's badminton authorities)