'No.1' Saina: Bagging silver medal at World Championship 'a big burden off my head'

Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal, who regained her top spot in the Women's singles Badminton World Federation (BWF) Rankings on Thursday, said that it was a big burden off her head to win the silver medal in World Championship.

"It was a big burden off my head. Last five World Championships I had lost in the quarterfinals and this was the sixth World Championship I was playing. People had put a lot of pressure on me and they were telling me that Saina was losing in the quarterfinals," Saina told ANI.

"I just kept working hard and finally crossed the stage of quarterfinals and played the finals of such a big event," she further said.

She insisted that winning the silver medal would, however, provide a lot of confidence to perform well in Japan and Korea Open, scheduled to take place next month.

Earlier, despite losing to her Spanish counterpart Carolina Marin in the World Championship's final last week, Saina dethroned her in the latest rankings released today.

Saina, who had to settle with the silver medal after her 16-21, 19-21 defeat against the defending champion, created history by becoming the first Indian to reach the finals of the World Championship.