Saina Nehwal vows to return stronger in December

‘If everything goes right, I am keen to take part in the Dubai World Superseries’

‘I am confident that in the next two-three years I can do better than what I have done’

Saina Nehwal says she wants to return to competitive action stronger after recovering from knee surgery and indicated that her best is yet to come.

"I want to come back stronger. I am confident that in the next two-three years I can do better than what I have done in the last five-six years. I have to do better," the ace shuttler declared.

India's leading women's badminton player is hopeful of recovering fully by December.

"If everything goes right, I am keen to take part in the Dubai World Superseries Finals during that month (December).

“I want to come back into competitive action only after I become 100 per cent fit," she added.

The former world number one failed to progress to the knock-out stage at the Rio Olympics and returned to India with unbearable pain in her right knee.

She underwent surgery last month for a broken bone below the kneecap at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai.

A physio is now working with her as part of the rehab process and a trainer will join later this month.

Saina dropped four places to number nine in the latest world rankings. She will miss the coming Japan, Denmark and France Superseries. Her absence from the aforesaid tournaments could impact her ranking adversely.

She agreed that dropping in the rankings is a matter of worry, noting she became world number two in 2009 but took seven years to reach the top position.

Saina said she was keen to do well in Rio but it turned out to be a "disaster" following the knee pain.

"May be God wished like this, may be I will become stronger," she said.