Badminton star of India Saina Nehwal has admitted that she ignored a toe fracture and continued training. She has been advised by her doctor to take a week's rest and not to play in the Sudirman Cup in Kuala Lumpur commencing on Sunday.
India is struggling to occupy a top position in a situation where China is top-ranked and Indonesia at No. 7. The withdrawal of Saina Nehwal from Sudirman Cup in Kuala Lumpur has pushed India’s hopes into jeopardy.
Just before leaving for Kuala Lumpur on Friday, Gopichand anticipated that China and Indonesia are tough teams. He thinks that they will have good results. In case they get an opportunity to produce an upset, it will be good. He admitted that they don’t have any history of playing with tougher teams in Sudirman Cup. He added that this is something they are looking forward and hope to have good results. He analyzed that Saina’s withdrawal will give World No. 13 PV Sindhu, who won the Grand Prix Gold title in Kuala Lumpur recently, an opportunity to make a mark of her own. He admitted that Saina’s withdrawal is unfortunate. She is their robust player and they will surely miss her. But they have Sindhu as her replacement. He expects it to be a good experience for Sindhu and hopes she will do well.
Gopichand attached hopes on women's singles, men's singles and women's doubles to carry India past Indonesia and qualify for the quarterfinals. He expected without revealing his doubles combinations as part of the team strategy that if they are able to produce three very good performances, they will be able to pull it. It will be surely tough but they stand a chance.
Gopichand anticipated Saina to play in the next three tournaments in June in Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore. He added that she will play in all the three but they will decide once they return.
India's best male badminton star, World No. 11 Parupalli Kashyap revealed that Saina's experience will be missed in Sudirman Cup. He told from Hyderabad before leaving for Kuala Lumpur that Saina’s withdrawal is obviously gloomy. She has performed her best in team events for India. In the Sudirman Cup of 2011, she assisted them to qualify for the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Sindhu is doing well but apparently they will miss Saina’s experience. He disclosed that they have a good chance against Indonesia whereas China is tough. When interrogated if Saina's absence made him feel added pressure, he answered that irrespective of Saina's absence, men’s singles is a crucial match and he would like to do well and score points for the team.
This is supposed to be Kashyap's third Sudirman Cup appearance. He was part of the 2007 and 2011 editions. This shuttler from Hyderabad highlighted that he is eager to play good matches against the Chinese and Indonesians.
The 26-year-old will participate in the Indonesia Open Super Series Premier from 10th to 16th June and Singapore Open Super Series from 18th to 23rd June. He has always wanted to do well in the Super Series and always wanted to win there. He even discussed with Gopi sir if he should also play in Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold from 4th to 9th June and decided against. Instead they decided that he might prepare and attempt to win a Super Series.
Anand Pawar is another men's singles player in the Indian team for the tournament who crashed into the semifinals of the India Open Super Series in New Delhi in April this year.
