‘Marriage will motivate me for 2020 Olympics’
Marriage, for Saina Nehwal, is an inspiration for competing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The London Olympics bronze medallist will tie the knot with P Kashyap on December 16, and even during the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast earlier this year she mentioned how Kashyap played a key role in motivating her to the singles gold.
“Kashyap is a very good player and can provide inspiration and help in training. It (marriage) is a part of life and everyone has to experience it,” said Saina on the sidelines of the Syed Modi International Badminton Championship on Wednesday.
Emphasising that her focus will be on the 2020 Olympics, world No 9 Saina is aiming to break into the top five. “It’s not going to be easy but my biggest motivation is my career in badminton. I have been doing well for the country and always want to win,” she said.
Terming 2018 an inspirational year, Saina termed the bronze at the Jakarta Asian Games as an achievement. “I improved a lot in the second half of the season, especially after the Asian Games. Winning my first bronze was quite fantastic,” she said.
“The best part is that my movement has improved and the confidence is back. I need to work hard next year as every win or loss makes a big difference.”
Saina refused to accept there is a vacuum in Indian badminton after PV Sindhu and her. “I don’t buy this theory as everyone is working hard. Sindhu and I are playing for the country and getting good results, so it’s natural that people are learning from us,” said the three-time winner of the Syed Modi event at the UPBA academy.
Saina was off to a flying start
LUCKNOW:
Second seed HS Prannoy was upstaged in straight games by lowerranked Indonesian Chico Aura Dwi Wardoya at the Syed Modi International Badminton on Wednesday.
Arguably the best current Indian shuttler after K Srikanth, the world No 23 was out of sorts throughout the 33-minute battle against a rival ranked world No 99, losing 14-21, 7-21.
Seventh seed Sourabh Verma was also knocked out, losing 21-17, 15-21, 15-21 to China’s Zhou Zeqi in 66-minute battle. Zhou will face India’s Harsheel Dani, who got the better of Ajay Jayaram 13-21, 21-13, 21-9.
Former champion Parupalli Kashyap showed glimpses of his old touch as the 32-year-old outplayed Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk of Thailand 21-14, 21-12. The 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, who had been struggling with injuries for the past two
to the season by reaching the final of the Indonesia Masters before winning her second gold at the Commonwealth Games by beating PV Sindhu in the final. years, was in control throughout the 34-minute game. He next plays Indonesia’s Firman Abdul Kholik.
Second seed Saina Nehwal launched her campaign in style brushing aside Mauritius’s Kate Foo Kune 21-10, 21-10 in 30 minutes.
The tie witnessed the biggest crowd of the day. London Olympics bronze medallist Saina will next face qualifier and local girl Amolika Singh Sisodiya, who got the better of compatriot Anura Prabhudesai 21-18, 12-21, 21-18 on the adjacent court.
Saina kept Kate on her toes with perfect net drops and placements to the corners. She conceded at least 15 of the 20 points due to unforced errors.
Former Chinese Olympic champion Li Xuerui, eighth seed Rituparna Das and all other seeds in women’s singles also advanced.
Top seeds and defending champions Pranaav Jerry Chopra and N Sikki Reddy lost to Chinese Ren Xiangyu and Zhou Chaomin in straight games -- 14-21, 11-21.
LUCKNOW:
She then led India to another gold in the mixed team event.
At the Asian Badminton Championships, Saina settled for bronze after losing to defending champion Tai Tzu Ying, and followed it with a bronze at the Jakarta Asian Games.
At the Denmark Open, Saina lost to Tai Tzu again, and lost to her at the French Open as well. “It’s good that at most of the events this season I made the finals. I am confident now as I was not able to clear the first and second rounds of Super Series tournaments. I am happy to have broken the jinx,” she said.
The best part is that my movement has improved & the confidence is back. I need to work hard next year as every win or loss makes a difference.