Mental fatigue did me in at Malaysian Open: Saina

Hyderabad:

Indonesian Open champion Saina Nehwal said mental fatigue got the better of her in the Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold, thus dashing her hopes for back-to-back titles on the circuit.

Buoyant after her Indonesian Open triumph, Saina seemed on course for her second title of the month but her surprise defeat at the hands of Chinese qualifier Xin Wang in the quarter-finals in Malaysia ended her dream run in the circuit. And Saina said it was due to mental weariness.

"I was mentally tired, even though I was fine fitness wise," the shuttler said a day after returning from Malaysia.

"I lost really some easy points and went down to her. But I guess it happens when you play continuously on the circuit," she added.

The bitterness, however, is supplanted by joy as she talks about her triumph in Indonesia.

"I must say that the victory was unexpected. I never thought it would come so early," Saina said. "My hard work has really paid off and I'm extremely happy," she said.

Looking ahead, Saina said she was bracing for the World Championship in her home town in August.

"Of course World Championship is the next big thing in my agenda. It would be an opportunity to play in front of the home crowd," she said.

Asked if that would put her under more pressure, Saina said, "Not really. I don't take pressure and I'm quite confident that I would live up to the expectations."