Shuttler Carolina Marin aims to return at China Open

Rio Olympic gold medal-winning shuttler Carolina Marin will aim to return to her prime form and fitness when she takes part in the China Open Superseries starting from November 15.

Marin, who had recovered from the thigh injury and gastroenteritis that hampered her performance at last month's Denmark Open, said on Thursday that she is ready to give her best shot in the upcoming events.

The Spaniard lost in the semi-finals of the Denmark Open to Japan's Akane Yamaguchi 15-21, 21-19, 18-21.

"I forced it a little, but this week I'm back training and I'm now eager for the next tournament I have in China," the 23-year-old said during a national sports council event here on Thursday, reports Efe.

"It's very tough because the level is higher all the time, but I'll have a lot of chances and I want to win (those big events)," she added.

The World No.1 also reckoned that it is difficult to remain at the top. "The difficult part is staying on top," Marin, who also won the singles titles at the 2014 and 2015 World Championships, said.

She acknowledged that her life has "completely" changed since winning Olympic gold in Rio in August as she became the first non-Asian to bag the coveted title. She defeated India's P.V. Sindhu in the final.

"I don't go unnoticed anymore. For me, it's a source of pride because when people know me it means they know my sport," she said.

And especially the messages I get about kids playing badminton with their parents, they give me goosebumps."

--IANS

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