Internet Desk: India’s ace shuttler Kidambi Srikanth is not a part of the China Open Super Series due to a niggle but will definitely play in Hong Kong Super Series after a week’s rest at Hong Kong Super Series. It will be an important Super Series for him as he would become the World No.1 player if he can win the title in Hong Kong.
The current World No.2 Srikanth, decided to take some rest after sustaining a leg injury during the recently concluded Senior National Badminton Championships in Nagpur.
“I am pulling out of China Open (November 14-19). It is a muscle strain and doctor advised me to take rest for one week.
It happened in the Nationals but because I kept playing it got a little worse. But I should be ok in a week,” Srikanth told PTI today.
The Badminton Association of India (BAI), however, said that it was just a coincidence that Srikanth sustained the injury at the Nationals, the dates for which were pre-fixed in consultation with all the top shuttlers of the country.
“I think it is wrong to say Nationals were responsible for his injury and it is wrongly timed,” BAI secretary general Anup Narang said.
“The dates were decided in consultation with the top players and they willingly participated in the event. In fact, if not Nationals, many players would have played at the Macau Open,” he said.
“There has been no major injuries to any player. Srikanth has a mild injury which will be corrected with a week’s rest.
So he would be playing in Hong Kong, where he will have the opportunity to reach no. 1 ranking.”