Germany's Marc Zwiebler is among the world's best badminton players at the moment. But there was a phase in the middle of the last decade when the current World No 14 feared he would not be able to walk for the rest of his life.
He began experiencing pain in his back in 2005 which was later diagnosed as a herniated disc.“There was no movement in my legs.
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Sometimes I had to stay on the wheelchair and was not sure if I could walk again,” recalls Zwiebler who will be turned out for the Mumbai Masters in the inaugural edition of the Indian Badminton League.
“I was very popular before the injury, but later many friends abandoned me. That was a huge lesson for me,” he added.u00a0After the enforced break of nearly a year-and-a-half, Zwiebler began finding his feet on the court again and is thrilled to be competing at the highest level. “I think that injury made me very strong. I am a different player now.
I am playing better now,” observed Zwiebler, who won last year’s European Championship.u00a0“Europe’s best players were there (at the European Championship), including Peter Gade. I also entered the semi-final of the All England Premier Super Series. I am enjoying my game again,” he concluded.