I should not have gone to Rio Olympics: Saina Nehwal

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Glasgow, August 26: "I should not have gone to Rio" Olympics, said ace shuttler Saina Nehwal.
The 27-year-old Saina's second-round defeat to unheralded Ukrainian Marija Ulitina was the lowest point for India in Rio.

That was a year ago. Now, a rejuvenated Saina marked her return to the big league by reaching the semifinals of the World Badminton Championships here.

"Only I know what I went through. I shouldn't have gone to Rio, I didn't know I had a major injury. The belief of my parents and coach helped me get back. I still have tendonitis in the [right] knee," Saina said.

She dug deep into her reservoir to a 21-19, 18-21, 21-15 win over world No 31 Kristy Gilmour of Scotland. "I was expecting a tough fight, but I was surprised she was playing so quick," said Saina.

"There were a lot of difficult rallies. She was pepped up and motivated, she put up a great show. I didn't expect she would last so long in the third game."

Saina had come into the match with a 4-0 head-to-head record against the 23-year-old Scot, but she didn't play her in the last three years. Gilmour had meanwhile won two silver medals at the European Championship.

The 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist will next play seventh seed Nozomi Okuhara of Japan, who knocked out two-time defending champion Spain's Carolina Marin 21-18, 14-21, 21-15 in another match.

"I wasn't sure of a medal, I had a difficult draw. Reaching the semi-finals is a great feeling, but tomorrow will be a tough match."