Saina shocked by England’s ‘immature’ pullout decision

Hyderabad: Stunned by England’s “immature” decision to pull out of the World Badminton Championship due to perceived security threat, top Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal on Sunday said it would not take any sheen out of the elite event.

“It’s an immature decision but I don’t think it makes much of a difference to the tournament because there are no English top players in the singles event,” Saina said. Badminton England today announced its decision to withdraw the eight-member contingent following a Home Ministry advisory on threat perception to the event ahead of the Independence Day celebration.Saina said the English shuttlers were conspicuous by absence in practice and her coach Pullela Gopichand himself tried to convince them about the foolproof security here but to no avail. “I think they should have been more patient. Even Gopi Sir spoke to them yesterday. In India, badminton is not as big as cricket so I don’t think there was any need to be worry,” said Saina, seeded sixth in the women’s singles event. “The tournament will go on without an issue and I don’t foresee any trouble for anyone. I think they panicked since Independence Day celebrations are round the corner,” she added. Bureau Report