Jakarta, Jan 27 : Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal claimed her first BWF title in two years after three-time world champion Carolina Marin of Spain limped out of the Indonesia Masters final due to a leg injury, here Sunday.
The London Olympics bronze medallist was trailing 4-10 in the opening game when Marin decided to withdraw from the contest.
"It is important year for all of us. This was not good at all. She is a tough competitor, she started off well and it is unfortunate what happened today," said Saina, who last won a BWF title in 2017 in Malaysia.
It is a creditable performance for the Indian, who had suffered a shin injury late last year.
"I just came out of injury. I played this events to see how good is this. and I'm happy I could play the semifinals at Malaysia and final here. Looking forward to get back to shape and play next tournament," she said.
"I have been getting injured in the last few years. I always try to come back stronger, there is no secret. I want to thank physios and coaches who are supporting me a lot."
Saina had won a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, a bronze at the Asian Games, besides reaching finals at the Denmark, Indonesia Masters and Syed Modi International.
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New Delhi: India’s newly appointed ODI captain Shubman Gill has said that both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remain very much in India’s plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup, putting to rest speculation about the senior players’ future in the 50-over format.
Speaking to the media for the first time since being named captain, Gill said the team values the immense experience and match-winning ability that both stalwarts bring, adding that their inclusion for the next World Cup in South Africa will depend purely on form and fitness.
“The experience they have and the number of matches they have won for India, there are very few players who have done that,” Gill said ahead of the second Test against the West Indies in New Delhi on Thursday. “There are very few players in the world with such skill, quality, and experience. From that perspective, we are definitely looking at them for 2027.”
Gill’s statement comes days after chief selector Ajit Agarkar gave a “non-committal” response when asked about Rohit and Kohli’s long-term roles in white-ball cricket, hinting at a possible generational shift.
With India now opting for separate captains across formats, Gill replaced Rohit Sharma as ODI skipper after earlier taking over the Test captaincy. The move was reportedly made to avoid leadership overlap, leaving both Rohit and Kohli to compete for places in the squad based on performance.
Reflecting on his leadership journey, Gill said he continues to learn from his predecessor’s approach. “There are so many qualities that I have inherited from Rohit bhai, and still want to,” he said. “The calmness he brings and the friendships he has built in the team are something I truly admire. These are the qualities I want to take from him.”
Both Rohit and Kohli are set to make their return to professional cricket during India’s upcoming white-ball tour of Australia later this month. The three-match ODI series begins in Perth on October 19, followed by five T20Is.