Saina Nehwal out of action for four months

Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal underwent a knee surgery at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital (KDAH) in Mumbai on Saturday. The 2012 London Olympics bronze-medallist, who made an early exit from the Rio Olympics, is likely to be off the courts for the next four months.

Saina was operated for inflammation in her right knee, which she had sustained during a training session just days before going to Rio. Since then, there was swelling and severe pain on her knee. Head of Center for Sports Medicine and Director, Arthroscopy and Shoulder Service at KDAH, Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, who operated upon Saina, said, “Saina had sustained an intra-articular (inside the joint) injury to her right knee. She underwent the arthroscopic surgery and is recuperating now. A small fragment of bone had separated from her patella (kneecap bone). This displaced fragment was causing her impingement and pain.”

Saina’s father Harvir Singh told The Asian Age, “Despite of the fat pad inflammation in her knee, Saina kept playing. She ignored her pain, which later aggravated. Doctors have advised her to take rest for the next three to four months.”

According to her medical report, “Pain for inflammation often grows acute with time if left unattended. Saina had knee pain since August 1 and it worsened after training on August 8. Following a check-up, tenderness and swelling was found in her knee. She was unable to fold her knee at 90 degrees due to the condition. Her X-ray and MRI scans also revealed abnormalities on her right knee joint. She was given suitable injection, but it did not work. Following this, she was advised to undergo surgery.”