I’ve nothing against BWF rule but there should be less tournaments: Saina Nehwal
December 31, 2017
I’ve nothing against BWF rule but there should be less tournaments: Saina Nehwal
“I have nothing against the BWF rule, of course they must have thought something and done this. But there should be less tournaments let’s say eight or nine to make it even more popular that will also help to raise more money. You won’t get to see like one champion who is able to dominate most of the time if you play 17 and 18 tournaments in a year. It will be like different number of players who can win the tournaments. So, it will not be the same what we used to see before because in every tournament you will have new champions,” she told TOI Sports after guiding Awadhe Warriors to a 4-3 win in the Premier Badminton League on Saturday.
“Less number of tournaments is equal to less number of injuries. And when you play more tournaments, you don’t have time to rest your body at all. After playing world championships, you only have two weeks to prepare for Asian Games which will obviously take a toll on your body. After mentally putting so much of effort, your body is bound to be tired and within two weeks you have to recover for the next tournament. I am just saying it is too much back-to-back tournaments and they could have opened little bit more,” she added.
Olympic and world silver medallist PV Sindhu has said she is going to pick and choose tournaments in order to be in the best possible shape in 2018. When asked, what is going to be her strategy, Saina said, “Everyone has their opinions but I don’t know to pick and choose because there is no time to do it, you have to play all the tournaments, you can’t skip seven to eight tournaments, you have to play at least 12 tournaments along with commonwealth Games, Asian Games, World Championships, Thomas & Uber Cup, Asian Championships, PBL, All England so I don’t understand how will you pick and choose. Maybe she (Sindhu) has some other idea of doing that.”
After ending her association with former coach Vimal Kumar, Saina had decided to train under Pullela Gopichand once again three years after the two had parted ways.
“I still need to get some more time for training. When I came back to Gopi sir there were only tournaments and had no time to train as such. We will get time after the India Open for five, six weeks and then I think can tell better about the training and fitness part. As of now I am happy with my fitness and whatever I could little do before this tournament. It’s always tough to play against the best,” she said when asked what changes she has seen in her game after going back to Gopichand.
World no. 10 Saina, who missed the opening encounter against Chennai Smashers due to ankle niggle, made stunning comeback as she came from one down to beat Michelle Li of Canada 6-15, 15-13, 15-13 to guide Awadhe Warriors to 4-3 victory over North Eastern Warriors at the Siri Fort Sports Complex in New Delhi.
