We all know how competitive ace badminton player Carolina Marin could be. Since winning the gold medal in the Rio Olympic Games in 2016, Marin is fighting the challenges that come along with triumph.
But since then, Marin has not been in the best of forms. Injuries too have forced her to lie a bit low. The end of 2016 wasn’t good for her. Earlier this month, she faced a debacle at the All England Open badminton championships where she lost to Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon in the quarterfinals.
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Marin, despite losing her number one ranking, is now up and about to win the world again. The world No. 4 seems to have fully recovered from the injuries too. While all Indian players are eager to start their campaign at the Indian Open starting in New Delhi from Wednesday, Marin, too, is putting her best foot forward. She is committed like never before and looking to regain her world number one ranking.
I will not allow her (Saina) to reach the world number one ranking because I will be fighting for the same - Carolina
While speaking to Hindustan Times at a promotional event for La Liga in New Delhi, Carolina openly challenged her Indian rival Saina Nehwal and added that they both are up for the same target and she would do anything to regain the top spot.
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Saina Nehwal has time and again proved to be the pride of the nation. However, for quite a few months, she was facing a serious knee injury too. Now totally fine, Nehwal is raring to go.
When Carolina was asked about Saina’s comeback and the challenge she would be facing after battling a major injury, she claimed, “We will have to wait and see (whether she can challenge for major titles again).” Then she added with a smile, “But of course, I will not allow her to reach the world number one ranking because I will be fighting for the same.”
Talking about her own injuries, the 23-year-old said, “It’s very hard to be always at the top level. My condition was perfect until the Olympic Games. After the Olympics, I suffered some injuries, serious injuries, because of which I couldn’t play many tournaments.”
“The top 10 (in the world rankings) has players from India as well as other countries from Asia, and I feel all these players are almost at the same level. The gap among the top players is too little.”
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The Spaniard added, “Now I am getting better from those injuries. But of course, when you are playing at the top level of the sport, you will have to bear some pain in your body. So you have to take care of your body a lot.”
"It’s very hard to be always at the top level. I want to do my best. I just want to enjoy out there, and I will hopefully have the fans behind me."
At the end, when she was asked about her focus and strategies on the Indian Open, she said, “Every tournament is very important for me. The Indian Open is one of them. I want to do my best. I just want to enjoy out there, and I will hopefully have the fans behind me.”
Other than Saina Nehwal, Olympic Silver Medallist PV Sindhu are some of the top Indian shuttlers who are gearing up to compete in this prestigious event.
Watch Interview: Fierce and fearless, here’s how PV Sindhu takes on wins or failure
Feature Image Credit: Firstpost
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