I am face the ready to Chinese: Saina Nehwal

Saina Nehwal's warning before World Championships: I don'tu00a0 fall short in ability and fitness as compared to the best

Hyderabad: Saina Nehwal is just 20. But the age factor has not prevented her from being selected for the highest honour a sportsperson can receive from the sports ministryu00a0-- the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award.

While Saina is delighted to be picked for an honour of such magnitude, her guns are trained on this month's World Badminton Championships in Paris.

When SUNDAY MiD DAY visited her home in Hyderabad recently, she appeared relaxed and extremely confident of her chances in Paris. She's had a good, three-week break after three back-to-back World titles.

She spoke about her strengths, weaknesses and why India should expect greater things from her.u00a0 Excerpts from an interview:

After three major titles on the circuit and the World No 2 ranking, what more is required to attain top ranking and the World title?

I am not really into rankings right now. At the start of the year I was not even thinking of getting into the top five, but it is nice that I am ranked No 2.

This has come quickly, but my target is still the same as it was at start of the season - i.e to do really well at Paris, Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. These are my priorities.

I have improved my strokes and overall fitness. We have covered all aspects but yes, in sport, there is always room for improvement and my net play needs some work.

With millions of Indians wanting you to win every time you walk on court, how do you manage to handle the pressure?

If I have worked hard and I am very sure about my strokes, I do not worry about all these things. Right from 2006 there have been huge expectations and I have always done well. But there are times when a player loses. After all, we are mortals too. Roger Federer does not win every time; Sachin Tendulkar has got out for a duck. But people do not forget and forgive easily especially if I lose in India.

The World C'ships are going to be tougher than the last three events you figured in ufffd
I am aware of this. There is more mental toughness required because there will be a different kind of pressure. Also, the top three Chinese players will be present. Each match will be interesting and I am looking forward to play against them. The fact that I will be seeded No 2 will bring more pressure on me. This will be more mental than physical. I will remain focussed.

How do you rate yourself against the Chinese?

The toughest opponent for me is the No 3 ranked player in the world ufffd Wang Xin. She plays very sharp strokes and is difficult to read. Plus, she is a quick mover.

But I do not worry about what they will do. I am doing my own hard work and have improved a lot in the last five months. I have immense faith in my strengths. I have defeated the fourth ranked girl, but that was way back in the 2008 world juniors in Pune. I have had close encounters with all these top Chinese players and I know their game. I think I have a 50-50 chance against all of them.

Your coach P Gopichand says your fitness levels are on par with the top Chinese players. Do you agree to this view?

Well, they have five or six girls of this level and fitness. But it all depends on focus on that day.
Training-wise and fitness-wise I am no less than anybody in the world, I can assure you. Since you played for India for a long time, you will understand clearly what I am saying.

Focus is important when all things are equal. The Chinese have this quality of never giving up. Their coaches stress to them that they play only to win. Losing is never an option for them. I also play like that.
I may not win a match but I give my hundred per cent always.

What about the pressure and nerves?

Of course, I feel nervous sometimes. But that happens only in India ufffd never when I am playing abroad. The opponent can win against me only if she has a better game and sharper strokes. Otherwise, there is no way they can defeat me. I am not afraid of any player in the world.

I am naturally strong. I never give up. If my opponent wants to win, I also want to win. Perhaps, more. I am a fighter to the core. At least as of now I feel that I do not have to work so much on my mental strength.
That killer instinct is there in me.

What are your weak areas?

I still need to be sharper and more consistent on my drop shots and net play. The net area is good, but I feel it can be so much better especially the cross court net strokes. But hey, this is sport, and I am only 20 years old.

Coach Gopichand did yoga to get mentally strong. Do you follow that route too?

No yoga for me. I cannot do it for 40 to 50 minutes. If you see me doing yoga for long, someone has forced me to do it.

I might do it for ten minutes maximum to experiment alongwith some visualisation. But nothing can be forced
on me.

I have my own ways to deal with problems.