Kolkata: They may have been given a raw deal at the auction of the Badminton Premier League (BPL), but both Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu seem unperturbed as they get ready for the China Open Super Series beginning from Wednesday, November 16.
According to PTI, Saina who will test her recovery from the knee injury that saw her exit at the Rio Olympics has the fourth seed Thailand’s Porntip Buranaprasertsuk as her opponent in the first round. Saina has beaten her nine times. Seventh seed Sindhu will be up against Chia Hsin Lee of Chinese Taipei.
Saina trained under her coach Vimal Kumar and decided to have a go at the China Open which she had won in 2014. The London Olympics bronze medalist underwent surgery and a prolonged rehabilitation programme. PTI quotes her coach saying earlier, “Saina is still short of endurance and strength.” Incidentally there were rumours, that the former World Number 1 was contemplating retirement after the injury, but it seems, it’s all a thing of the past, as a rejuvenated Saina returns to the court. (ALSO READ: http://sportscrunch.in/rio-olympics-the-very-achievement-of-pv-sindhu-after-silver/)
Saina’s fellow Hyderabadi, PV Sindhu who won the silver in the Rio Olympics would be keen on winning her first Super Series title. “My training has been very good. I am prepared well. I haven’t seen the draw. It doesn’t matter I guess since you have to play every good player at some stage. Nobody is going to be easy and everybody will fight till the last point so even if it is a lower ranked player, you have to give your best,” Sindhu was quoted by the News Agency.
In the men’s singles, Ajay Jayaram faces Zhu Siyuan from China, HS Prannoy is up against Ng Ka Long Angus from Hong Kong and B Sai Praneeth takes on German Marc Zwiebler in the first round.