Down with a cold,Saina pulls out

Saina’s coach Pullela Gopichand clarified Saina’s injury status,saying her pulling out was more of a cautionary move,and that the hamstring injury was not serious.

“The last few months have been very busy for her. She reached India late on Monday and flew out for the Lucknow event next morning. She has a cold. She has slight hamstring strain,not a pull. In such a situation more strain was not advisable,” said Gopichand.

The coach,however,underscored the star-value of a player like Saina in any tournament,saying” “As a player she draws attention and her presence is definitely important” Sinha confirmed that Saina,despite her non-participation would still be present during the tournament. “She will come again on December 24 to see the matches,” he said.

Saina’s pull-out follows an e-mail exchange between the player and the BAI,during which the Hyderabadi shuttler requested the association to excuse her from participating at the Modi Memorial Grand Prix,citing fatigue. BAI,in its reply,asked her to take part in the event nonetheless,it being a home-tournament.

“Responding to her e-mail we had told Saina that she should participate in this tournament because it was an ‘Indian tournament’ and she agreed to it,” said Sinha.