Bangalore: Shuttler Saina Nehwal said that her main goal for the season is now to qualify for the Dubai World Superseries Finals at the end of the year. The top eight in rankings make it to the tournament.
Three years after parting ways, Saina announced her reunion with Pullela Gopichand. She also said that she will start training Thursday onwards.
“I feel when we spoke things went very smoothly and there was no discussion of past. We have buried our past differences. We are now only looking forward to the training,” the bronze medal winner at the recent World Championships said.
“I would like to start training first, the fire to win is there and I would definitely try my best. My main goal is to qualify for the year-end Dubai Superseries Finals.”
Saina informed that she had started playing in Hyderabad from Monday itself, but because she has some pain in her leg, she will start full training, September 7. “The pain is a bit of a bother. However, I am sure, I can start proper training from Thursday onwards,” informed the player who is suffering from a slight thigh strain.
Asked if she was feeling homesick while training in Bangalore with Vimal Kumar, Saina said, “It is not like that, but things will be much easier in Hyderabad for me.”
Saina had moved to Prakash Padukone Academy here three years ago after 2014 World Championships. Under the eyes of Vimal Kumar, she achieved the World No. 1 ranking in April 2015 and won a silver at the 2015 World Championships.
It was only the second time that an Indian had achieved the top ranking after Prakash Padukone achieved the feat in 1980.
Press trust of India
