HYDERABAD (TIP): In a major setback to Indian badminton hopes at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, ace shuttler Saina Nehwal is learnt to have pulled out of the event. Saina, who shot to fame by winning the gold medal for India at the Delhi Games in 2010, has reportedly expressed her inability to join the team set to leave for Glasgow on Friday.

Though Saina’s ticket has reached the city, it is reliably learnt that the shuttler will not fly to Europe. After her unexpected triumph at the Australian Open Super Series last month, Saina was a favourite to win gold in Glasgow. But the shuttler, who sustained blister injuries on both her feet, took some time to recover and was not able to practise properly.

In fact, she did not hit the court for about a week after her return from Australia. It is also learnt that she is suffering from a knee problem. Neither Saina nor her coach Pullela Gopichand were available for comment. A source in the Badminton Association of India (BAI) told TOI that president Akhilesh Das Gupta and some members of the coaching staff are persuading her to go to Glasgow.

However, till Thursday, their efforts had not borne fruit. “For the last three days we have been trying to convince her. If she goes even with 50% of fitness she can win a gold for us. Apart from Saina there are no big players among the Commonwealth countries. So far she has not agreed to be part of the squad.

I don’t think she will change her mind,” the BAI official said. In 2010, Saina defeated Malaysia’s Wong Mew Choo in a nailbiting final to win the women’s singles gold. India won four medals then. Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa clinched gold in the women’s doubles while Kashyap secured bronze in men’s singles. India had also won silver in the team event. With Saina’s likely to stay home, Indian hopes will hinge of PV Sindu and the pair of Jwala and Ashwini in the women’s section.