After a final appearance at the China Super Series Premier, Saina was left nursing an achilles tendon and had to skip the Hong Kong Open last month and the World No. 2 said she is keeping her expectations low.
"I've been undergoing physiotherapy for the last three weeks and I feel I'm in good shape, but you never know. I'm not expecting big results because of the injury which I had in China. I just want to give my best," said Saina, who will take on Japan's Nozomi Okuhara in her opening women's singles match at the Hamdan Sports Complex tomorrow.
The London Olympic bronze medallist, Saina has lost to Marin in the finals of All England and World Championship this season even though the Indian had beaten her at Syed Modi earlier in the year.
Talking about Marin, Saina said: "I think she had a great year, she's been playing really well. She's a tough competitor for everyone. She's in good shape right now and I'm struggling with the injury so you never know.
Saina had reached the finals of the prestigious event in 2011 and finished at the semifinal stage three times.
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
