Today will be the same as yesterday for badminton champ Saina Nehwal - slogging and sweating it out on court
Today will be the same as yesterday for badminton champ Saina Nehwal - sloggingu00a0 and sweating it out on court
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When Saina Nehwal defeated Sayaka Sato of Japan in final of the 2010 Indonesian World Series Badminton Championships yesterday, she reached a landmark in Indian sports. The dynamic 20-year-old from Hyderabad has now emulated the legendary Prakash Padukone by winning three major tournaments on the trot.
In 1980, Padukone, won the Swedish, Danish and All England Championships in a three-week blitzkrieg that stunned the world. Saina has not only achieved that, but has gone one-up on the master and indeed surpassed her coach Pullela Gopichand's achievements.
In 1980, the championships in Denmark and Sweden were Grade Two events, while the All England was a Grade One tournament. In today's disposition, as laid down by the World Badminton Federation (WBF), the Singapore and Indonesian World Series are Grade One events - on par with the All England Championships. Saina now looks set to jump to the World No 2 spot by Thursday. Neither Padukone nor Gopichand ever had this honour and privilege.
So, is it time for celebrations for Saina? "No" said the champion. "I am very happy to retain this title, but I will be happier and satisfied if I do well at the World Championships in August."
India coach, Bhaskar Babu was understandably overwhelmed. "She has played exceptionally well in Singapore and Indonesia. By defeating the reigning world champion last week, she proved that she is as good as the best in business. Her movements today and in the semis were really fast and her aggressive game was difficult for others to catch up with."
However, Saina's coach Gopichand did not get carried away. "There is no time for euphoria," he said. "I am sure that for Saina, it will be work as usual when she comes to the academy tomorrow. Celebrations can wait.
This year is crucial for her future. We are aiming for Commonwealth and the Asian Games which are going to be really tough. Rankings are important, but titles are more important." Saina has defeated almost every singles player from China in the last two years, including the world champion. After having won three World Series titles, she has proved that she is an amazing force. As Padukone said, "She is a complete player, no doubt. But mentally, to defeat the Chinese one after the other, in championships after championships, is not going to be easy."
Saina therefore just cannot relax. The hunter has become the hunted. But she has the fitness, the mental toughness and that incredible commitment to do it all.
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