An extremely difficult, but important decision: Saina Nehwal

Saina Nehwal. Pic/AFP.

New Delhi: India's hopes of fetching five badminton medals at the Commonwealth Games suffered a massive jolt yesterday as ace shuttler and defending champion Saina Nehwal pulled out of the Glasgow event after failing to recover from leg blisters sustained during the Australian Open Super Series triumph last month.

Saina Nehwal. Pic/AFP.

"It is an extremely difficult decision but an important one," a heartbroken Saina told PTI ahead of the event which starts on July 23.

"I had suffered a groin injury during the first round in Australia and then there were those blisters on my leg but I still won the title. After I came back I had two-and-a-half weeks but I took one week to recover, so hardly got a week to train. So, I decided to pull out. It's heartbreaking for me as well," she said.

The Olympic bronze medallist, who is believed to be suffering from a knee injury as well, said she had to take the decision of withdrawing from the Glasgow Games in order to get fit for the rest of the season which includes important tournaments like the World Championship and the Asian Games.

"I did start practicing and I hoped that I could still go and play, but then I didn't want to exert myself too much. I don't want to risk an injury again. I have to be fit for the rest of the season. There are two more important and equally big tournaments coming up next - the World Championship and Asian Games. So I had to take a call," said Saina.

‘Need to be 100% fit'
"It is important to go into such big tournaments knowing you are 100 per cent and especially when I am playing well and have won an event. It will enhance my chances of winning a medal for India," she added.

Currently World No 7, Saina had defeated Wong Mew Choo of Malaysia during the 2010 Commonwealth Games to bag a gold.

7: Saina Nehwal's current women's singles ranking