Updated On: 20 December, 2012 12:27 PM IST | | IANS
National badminton coach Pullela Gopichand Wednesday came out in defence of Saina Nehwal after she "retired" on match point from the women's singles first round of the Syed Modi International India Grand Prix Gold at the Babu Banarsi Das Indoor Stadium here.
In controversial circumstances, Saina Nehwal, India's Olympic bronze medallist, pulled out of the tournament.
The 22-year-old was on match-point (21-17, 20-18) against Russian Ksenia Polikarpova when surprisingly she told the referee she could not continue due to knee problems.