KARACHI: Pakistan’s top badminton player, Palwasha Bashir, has set her eyes on regaining her lost prime following her triumphant return to the Badminton courts after a grueling 17-month hiatus due to injury.
Palwasha, who had been sidelined due to injury, marked her return with a resounding victory over top-ranked player, Mahoor Shahzad, in her comeback match at National Ranking tournament last month.
In an interview with a TV channel after her comeback, Palwasha expressed her joy and determination saying, “I am happy to be back on badminton courts. It was very frustrating to stay away from the game due to injury, but now I’ve recovered and am eager to regain my lost prime.”
“The break due to injury has allowed me to focus on where I was wrong in the past. I planned how to overcome the small mistakes I was making before getting injured.
“My goal is to reclaim my top position and be among the contenders once again. I have regained my rhythm, but I want to play more domestic tournaments before I announce my return to the international circuit. Maybe in the next few months, you’ll see me playing in international tournaments,” she added.
During her time away from the game, Palwasha underwent a transformation, she stated that the time spent recovering from injury became a source of strength for her and it transformed her into a determined fighter with unwavering resolve.
“It was very frustrating to stay away from the game due to injury, but these things are part and parcel of games. When you’re in the field, you tend to get injured, and injury will keep you away from the game,” she said.
“The time away from the game, when I was in bed with my ankle wrapped in a plaster, has made me a fighter. It has taught me how to never give up and keep fighting for my dreams. It has made me stronger than before, and that is why I am more confident.”
Talking about her comeback tournament, Palwasha said that it was good to beat Mahoor in the first round but acknowledged that she made mistakes in the final against Ghazala Siddiqui and vowed to do better in the future.
“Beating Mahoor Shahzad in my comeback match was confidence-boosting. The victory confirmed to me that I have a lot to offer and I still have it. I regret losing to Ghazala in the finals. I think I got carried away in excitement. I had started to think about victory even before achieving it. That was my mistake, but I will do better next time,” she concluded.
