Never write her off! Saina proves she is back with valiant World Championships bronze

After winning her quarter-final outing against Kirsty Gilmour of Scotland on Friday, Saina Nehwal stunned quite a few when she opined she should have skipped Rio Olympics 2016 as she had been carrying a knee injury, that got severe after the defeat in her second group-stage match at the Games.

"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 had said, as quoted by the Times of India. 

The concern over her knee, which was fixed last year with a surgery, reportedly began two weeks ahead of the quadrennial meet and broke millions of Indian fans' hearts, which got mended when PV Sindhu won the historic Silver.

Saina took nearly a three-month break towards the end of the 2016 season to recover and only returned at China Open in November where she faced a first-round exit.

Career-threatening injury

The 27-year-old though was filled with doubts over her future and it was evident with her lack of intensity on the court in the tournaments late last season. Saina even contemplated an early retirement. 

"It is okay, many people will think my career will end and I won't come back. I also think somewhere deep in my heart that maybe it is the end of my career, so let's see how it is. Maybe, you never know," Saina told ESPN right after her surgery.

Cut to August 2017, Saina will be the recipient of a World Championships bronze. Not many and not even herself would have dreamt about the comeback run at the ongoing Glasgow meet, which has been halted after her valiant fight against Japan's Nozomi Okuhara in the first women's singles semi-final on Saturday.

Dream comeback run in Glasgow

Saina had demolished second seed and world number three Sung Ji Hyun 21-19, 21-15 in just 48 minutes in the round of 16 of the World Championships. She then fended off a stiff challenge from local hope Kristy Gilmour in the quarter-final on Friday.

And on Saturday, Saina started the semi-final by switching on the beast mode.

"Should it become an all-India final, then Floyd Mayweather- Conor McGregor fight will become the second most important match of the weekend," quipped a commentator on air after Saina had taken the first game 21-12.

Saina was switched on right from the word go, despite her three-game marathon against Gilmour on Friday. In no time, she was leading 8-2 and her aggression was visible as the London Olympic bronze medallist celebrated each and every point with a whoop.

The 27-year-old broke the spirits of Okuhara with her trademark deceptive drop shots. Saina put on a show of precision that left the Japanese Olympic bronze medallist frustrated.

At 17-17 in the second game, Saina failed to close out the match and book a place in the final as Okuhara clinched four quick points to force a decider. In the third game, the Japanese star was unstoppable as the Indian shuttler clearly looked worn out towards the end of the hour-and-14-minute-long battle.

It is now once again up to Sindhu, who will be taking on China's teenage sensation Chen Yufei in the second semi-final on Saturday evening to keep the Indian campaign alive in Glasgow.

Expect more from the fighter

However, Saina has proved her time is not over yet and she is hungry for more. The winner of 20 titles on the circuit turned back the clock in Glasgow with her precision and solid defense, which was a delight to badminton fans.

Saina should have gained the much-needed confidence, which she lacked during the early stages of the 2017 season. In the season-opening Premier Badminton League, the Indian shuttler often spoke about her knee concerns and it seemed to have affected her a lot, mentally.

The London Olympics bronze medallist needed a run like the one she has just had in Glasgow to start believing once again in her world-beating abilities. A little rest after her draining campaign should keep her in good stead for the Superseries tournaments to come later this year.

Be rest assured that both Saina and Sindhu will now hunt as a pair as India eyes to cement their position as the next global powerhouse of world badminton.