Possible for Saina to get back to the top, says Padukone

TIL Desk Sports/ Describing P V Sindhu’s triumph at the China Open Super Series Premier women’s singles recently as a “great achievement”, Indian badminton legend Prakash Padukone expressed the hope that the lanky Hyderabad girl will continue to make waves next year also.

 “It’s her first Super Series title and its definitely a great achievement because after you had done so well, expectations are high and to win the Super Series title coming from there – so close to the (Rio) Olympics (where Sindhu won the silver medal) – is a great achievement. I hope she continues doing well in the coming year as well,” said Padukone in Mumbai, on Tuesday.

Sindhu, 21, became the third Indian, after fellow Hyderabadi Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth, to win the China Open singles crown. Sindhu had lost to Spain’s World champion Carolina Marin in the Rio Olympic Games final after winning the first game and Padukone feels perhaps she was overcome by pressure which he feels is quite normal as it was her first Olympic Games.

Asked about Saina Nehwal, whose 2012 London Games bronze medal winning show was a path breaker for Indian women’s badminton, Padukone is confident that the 26-year-old former World number one will be regain her best form. Saina struggled with a knee injury during the Rio Games, where she lost in the first round, before she underwent surgery and was out of action for nearly three months.