I've been carrying expectations for many years but confident I can do really well, says Saina

SAINA NEHWAL admits that the pressure gets to her as her preparations for the Rio Olympics is in full swing. Currently, she is participating in the ongoing All England Championships in which she will play her quarter-final match tonight.

India's expectations from Saina is over whelming on her and the World No. 3 says that it has sometimes brought "silly mistakes". India's top shuttler further added that due to the constant pressure, she has to pay extra attention to her mental fitness along with the repeated physical fitness issues which has forced her to remain out of action.

Saina also admits that not clinching the World and All England Championships is something she "feels sad about". She was the first Indian woman to be crowned World No. 1 last year.

Talking to AFP she said,

"I've been carrying expectations for many years, but at the same time I know every match counts because so many people are following me. I just have to be more focused and keep working hard."

"I don't want to think about these things because sometimes it plays a major role and I then make stupid mistakes and lose a match. Then I realise I could've played much better so I just try to relax and not think about it too much. I try to just go with the flow."

Her coach Vimal Kumar has played a vital role in relieving some pressure off her shoulders and has also helped her prepare for the Olympic qualifying period.

"I've come back after injury -- it's been almost two and a half months since I've played a tournament, so in that way I am happy," Nehwal said.

"The injury I had was very serious -- Achilles tendonitis. It's quite painful but I've come out of it and am now strengthening very well. It's a very difficult injury; I've faced a lot, it is not easy."

Saina was also the first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic Bronze medal at the London Games in 2012 . The 25-year-old Hyderabadi is aware that the bar will be placed even higher in 2016 for a success-hungry nation.

Her current competition is Carolina Marin. The 22-year-old Spaniard has won both the World and All England titles and is also one of the favourites to clinch the Gold medal in Rio.

But the Indian shuttler has started 2016 on a positive note.

"It's looking better but it's not easy," she said.

"There is lots of expectation and pressure because in India nobody has achieved as much as me and people want me to do well but I always give my best when I play tournaments," Nehwal concluded.

"If I'm solid then I'm confident I can do really well."