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The famous Badminton Commentator Gillian Clark once said "Do not write her off. She has the soul and the spirit to turn every match into her fortune". Time and time again she proves that she still remains a force to be reckoned with in the international circuit.
With the game becoming more demanding physically, many questions were thrown at Saina post her knee injury as to how she could deal with the young and emerging top players. Knee plays an important part in Badminton. With deep stretches in the front court, the knee needs to be dealt with utmost care.
And Saina still relies mostly on stretches, whereas the young new players have started relying on more of chasse steps for front court coverage. Many felt Saina has become too slow on the court and her movements have started wobbling.
I have never seen any player make a comeback of such degree in such a short period after a knee injury and she should be given some time to show her supremacy. But still, questions were raised about Saina's court movements and fitness. But as time passed, things changed.
The news headlines on Dec24, 2016 in The Hindu highlighted "Want to prove I can still achieve big things " The very next week she went on to win the Malaysian Grand Prix 2017 and reached the quarterfinals of the prestigious All England 2017 thereby converting the critics into admirers again.
She won bronze in the World championship 2017 raising quite a few eyebrows and stunned the world by beating the world number 2 PV Sindhu in the final of the National Championship. She again beat her nemesis Sindhu in the Indonesian Masters in the quarters and won against Intanon in the semis but fell to the mighty and deceptive Tai Tzu Ying in the finals.
When the heart wills, there is nothing enough to stop Saina reach the top again. She still has got the will and the firepower in her. With The All England 2018 coming in a few weeks, Saina has a chance to prove the world that we just need a strong mind and a willful heart to achieve success!
"Strength does not come from physical capacity ,it comes from indomitable will" ~ Mahatma Gandhi
