Saina to resume training after two-month break

2012 Olympic bronze medalist Saina Nehwal will resume her training from Tuesday as she is now fully recovered from her knee injury.  The Indian ace shuttler suffered a severe injury to her right knee before the Olympics and even played two matches by taking pain killers.

Speaking at the ceremony at SRM University where she was conferreda honorary doctorate, Saina said, “I have got the bone spur (bone outgrowth) removed from my right knee. I will start training for longer sessions from Tuesday. I will work hard to win titles in the upcoming events,” reported The Hindu.

The former World No. 1 had battled the injury to play the Rio Olympics but was severely hampered by it crashing out early on in the group stage.

Saina was elated to receive the award and said, "I am very honoured to receive this honorary doctorate. My father will be very proud of me today because he is a scientist, and he always wanted me to be a doctor. My mom wanted me to be an Olympian."

The 26-year old Hyderabad badminton star stressed on the importance of more children getting into different sports.

She said, “India needed more badminton players for the future and that the parents should better encourage their children to take up sports.”

Speaking about the need for better coaches and facilities for India to succeed at the international level, Saina said, “It was very important to have good coaches and physios in order to train and compete at the international level.”