Saina gets a low after the high, faces $5000 fine for withdrawal

Saina Nehwal's decision to pull out of next month's Super Series Finals due to an ankle injury could cost her $5000 and also invite disciplinary action if she fails to convince the Badminton World Federation (BWF) that her injury is serious enough to skip the promotional events before the tournament. The third edition of the Super Series Finals will be played in Chinese Taipei from January 3. The season-ending championship is an exclusive event for the top-eight players in the Super Series rankings.

Saina qualified for this season's Finals when she jumped to seventh in the rankings after her Hong Kong open triumph earlier this month. She, however, conveyed her inability to participate two days ago and the BWF has already announced a replacement in Petya Nedelcheva of Bulgaria.

But action could be initiated under BWF's new rules and regulations for the Super Series circuit that makes it mandatory for all top eight players to participate in the newly-introduced Super Series Premier tournament or at least be available for the promotional events. The new regulations were passed in November.

Saina confirmed to HT that she has received a communication from BWF asking her to be there in Chinese Taipei for the promotional events. "I will now consult the doctor and then will tell them," she said.

Saina had injured her ankle while practicing last Wednesday and pulled out of the India Grand Prix. Speaking about the injury, she said the doctors had advised her three weeks rest to avoid further damage to the ankle.It is believed the stringent rule was introduced to discourage players from pulling out of major tournaments without genuine reasons and also safeguard the interest of the organisers and sponsors.

The last two editions of the tournament were affected by withdrawals by the Chinese contingent and the BWF managed to find a sponsor for this edition only in July. The move seemed to have worked as the tournament will have a field barring Saina in all the five events. Super Series Finals