I relax with Bollywood movies
With India's most coveted sports award, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, in her kitty, ace badminton player Saina Nehwal is now aiming for the World No.1 position. She is ready to take on some of the big names at the World Championship in Paris starting from Monday. TWF correspondent Aviroop Mukherjee catches up with her
Already a world No.2, the country is expecting nothing but the world title from the Hyderabad girl, who is riding high on confidence after her hat-trick of Super Series win in the last four months.
In 2008 in front of her home crowd in Hyderabad, Saina reached the quarterfinals of the World Championships before losing to China's Lin Wang. But much has changed in the last two years and the 20-year-old Harayanvi told Trans World Features (TWF) that she is better prepared this time to give India its maiden World Championships medal.
"I am on the top of my game and feel this time the Indian team is better prepared to win at least two medals at the World Championships. I have some expectations from myself and also feel that our mixed doubles team of Jwala Gutta and V. Diju have a good chance of winning a medal," says Saina, who has been seeded second for the tournament.
Gruelling training sessions under head coach Pullela Gopichand, who is also an All England champion, has put Saina in top form for the World Championships.
"I have been continuously playing for the last four-five months and that has put me in top shape. Under Gopi sir I have trained for eight hours everyday in the last one month. I have worked on some areas of my game like defence, net play and backhand. I don't want to sound over-confident, but yes I am in the best frame of mind. The circuit is also getting tougher everyday and to stay on top of your game you have to put in lot of hard work," she says.
For Saina, the dream is receive the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna from the President with a World Championship medal in her pocket.
"I am tired after all the felicitations following my victories, and announcement of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award. I could not get the rest I wanted. But it is a great honour for me to get this award and it would be a double bonanza for me if I get a World Championship medal when I receive this award. But I am not thinking of anything. My focus is on the World Championships," she says.
Saina has also been named as the captain of the Indian team, but for her the captaincy comes with some added responsibilities.
"In badminton captaincy doesn't mean much, because it is an individual sport. All the players in the team are aware of each other's responsibilities. But after all when I am the captain that means my responsibilities towards myself increases. There are lot of expectations from me and I have to fulfil them. So in respect captaincy comes with some responsibilities," she says.
Asked about the field in the World Championships, Saina says: "It is a World Championships so I don't expect things to be easy. That's how things are meant to be. But I am not bothered about the draw. I have to take one match at a time and that will be the key."
Due to her high rankings, Saina has been given a bye in the first round and in the second round she will face Chinese Taipei's Hsiao Huan Chen. The Indian should have an easy going till the quarterfinals, where she may face sixth seeded Chinese Shixiang Wang.
Chinese players are a jinx for Saina after having lost the 2008 World Championships to another Chinese Ling Wang also in the quarters.
"I know my critics say that I have not performed well against the Chinese players. But now I am no longer scared of the Chinese players. However, I am a bit apprehensive about playing against unknown rivals," she says
To keep her pre-occupied off the court, Saina is carrying a bagful of DVD’s to relax herself in Paris.
"I always watch films to keep myself relaxed. On every tour I keep lot of DVDs to keep myself pre-occupied. Don't forget I am young. I am a huge Bollywood fan. I particularly like watching movies which feature Aamir and Shah Rukh Khan. And after a high-intensity match, these flicks help me release pressure and calm my nerves. The latest Peepli Live will surely be there in my bag," says Nehwal.
|
|
