New Delhi: After making it to the last-four phase in 2010, Saina Nehwal aims to go all the way this year in the All England Badminton Championships. With 5 titles leading up to the premier shuttle event, India's brightest badminton star wants to create history by winning the coveted title, a feat no other Indian woman has accomplished.
Described as the 'Wimbledon of badminton', Nehwal will look to derive inspiration from her coach, Pulella Gopichand - the only other Indian after Prakash Padukone to win the esteemed prize.
Getting the easier draw than others, she has only one Chinese player in her half in the form of Wang Yihan. And the news of the Chinese damaging her ligaments will only make her challenge stronger as the two are expected to meet in the quarterfinals.
However, Saina will open her campaign against Seung Hee Bae of Korea and is likely to face Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei in the second round.
Haunted by fitness concerns that forced her to withdraw from three competitions, she also failed to make it past the second round in the Korean Super Premier. But Saina is confident that she is now fit and raring to go.
The qualifiers are scheduled to be held on Tuesday, with the tournament proper starting on Wednesday.
Comments
0 comment