"The comeback was not very easy for me. I had trained very hard with Gopi sir and I want to give him full credit for this victory," said Saina after winning the India Grand Prix Gold, which will fetch her 7000 ranking points.
"Staging a comeback wasn't easy. I gave my 100 per cent today and I am happy to win my first title after a gap of 15 months," she added.
"I am very happy to have won. It is still unbelievable that this has happened. I was little nervous as I was playing in a final after a long time. But things went well for me," said the top seeded Saina, who had last reached a final in the French Super Series in October, 2012.
"It's an emotional moment for me. Loved the support I got. Lucknow has been my favourite city, I won my first title here in 2009. It feels good to win again. The win was more special as it came after such a long time," she added.
"I am very happy that my efforts have borne fruit and I dedicate this victory to Gopi sir and my parents," said Saina.
The Commonwealth Games champion also heaped praise on her opponent Sindhu.
"Sindhu played very well. I needed many improvement in myself and I am happy that I kept my momentum going.
"It was a great match and the crowd enjoyed it. She is great player, and also in top-10. I am happy that I pulled it off," said the Hyderabadi.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
