Saina Nehwal, India's leading badminton player is eagerly waiting  to come back into competitive action. Saina is presently recovering from a knee surgery and indicated that her best may be yet to come.

"I want to come back stronger. I am confident that in the next two-three years I can do better than what I have done in the last five-six years. I have to do better," the ace shuttler added.

Saina expects to recover fully by December if things go as planned.

"If everything goes right, I am keen to take part in Dubai World Superseries Finals during that month I want to come back into competitive action only after I become 100 per cent fit," she said.

Saina failed to progress to the knock-out stage in Rio Olympics after she suffered from competition unbearable pain in right knee. She had to return to India for surgery.

She underwent surgery last month at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai for broken bone below the kneecap. A physio is now working with her as part of the rehab process, and a trainer would join later this month.

Saina last month dropped four places to be number nine in the latest world rankings. She would miss the coming Japan, Denmark, and France Superseries, and it may impact her ranking adversely.

She agreed that slipping in rankings is a matter of worry, noting she became world number two in 2009 but took seven years to reach the top position.

Saina said, "was very keen to do well in Rio but it turned out to be a "disaster" following the knee pain. Maybe God wished like this, maybe I will become stronger."

In a recent interview, India's Rio Olympics silver medallist PV Sindhu said that she is willing to take all the responsibilities in the absence of Saina Nehwal in the upcoming opens.

Also Read: Saina Nehwal inspires PV Sindhu

BY M. DIVYA SRI