Business Standard

Monday, December 23, 2024 | 09:38 AM ISTEN Hindi

Notification Icon
userprofile IconSearch

Fit-again Saina starts campaign in Malaysia

Image

Press Trust of India Kuala Lumpur
After skipping season-opening Korea Open due to fitness issues, a fit-again Saina Nehwal will now start her campaign in the USD 500,000 Malaysia Super Series Premier which starts with the qualifiers here tomorrow.

Saina, seeded eighth, had endured a tough season last year as she could not win a single title. She also decided to miss the Senior Nationals in December and last week's Korea Open after suffering from cough and cold.

However, the world number eight Indian is now fully fit and is rearing to go, as she prepares to open her campaign against Indonesia's Hera Desi in the first round at the Putra stadium on Wednesday.
 

It won't be an easy march ahead for Saina as top Chinese shuttlers -- Li Xuerui and Yihan Wang -- are also placed in the first half of the draw.

In the last two years Saina had reached the semifinals but the 23-year-old will look to better that record this time. The Olympic bronze medallist is likely to meet world number 30 Yao Xue of China in the second round.

Rising shuttler P V Sindhu, who also skipped the Korea Open after winning the Senior Nationals in December, will meet Indonesia's London Fanetri, ranked 20 in the world, in the second half of the draw in her season opener.

The world number 11 has been in good form last year as she won Malaysia Grand Prix Gold and Macau Open, besides winning the prestigious bronze medal in the World Championship in Guangzhou, China.

Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel

First Published: Jan 13 2014 | 2:56 PM IST

Explore News