Date:20/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/20/stories/2008082053181900.htm

Sport - Badminton

Saina, Gopi look at positives from Beijing

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Saina Nehwal is looking forward to build on the gains from the quarterfinal appearance she made in Beijing last week.

In the Capital at the invitation of the Union Sports Minister M.S. Gill, Saina appeared to have come to terms with the agonisingly close defeat to the eventual bronze-medallist Maria Kristin Yulianti.

Accompanied by coach P. Gopi Chand, Saina looked at the positives from her performance at Beijing and said, “I am quite satisfied with what I did. But sometimes, I feel, if I could play Yulianti again, I could have progressed further.”

The ‘drift’ factor

Saina said the ‘drift’ in the playing hall influenced the results of many matches, including her quarterfinals, “Once I lost the toss and Yulianti chose the ‘right’ side to start the match, I knew what to expect when playing with the drift.

“Once we changed sides in the decider, I knew I had to go for my strokes. But they did not land as desired. Soon, my shoulder started paining. Next, I tried to play on the sides but couldn’t control the shuttle.

“Thereafter, I grew desperate and Yulianti simply concentrated on keeping the shuttle in play. I gave away too many negative points and lost,” said Saina as she looked back at the phase when she dramatically lost 16 out of 17 points.

Gopi said “for me, the most crucial phase of the deciding game was when Yulianti denied Saina from gaining points from immediately after the sides were changed. If Saina had managed to win, say, three or four points and maintained a lead of six points, it would have been a different story.

“Once Yulianti got as close as 9-11, she clearly had the momentum going her way and it became increasingly difficult for Saina.”

Nice experience

The debutant Olympian loved the experience of meeting sportspersons from difference disciplines at the Olympic Village and said, “It was so nice to meet Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and several other Indian players about whom you’ve only read in the papers.

“I saw Rafael Nadal but could not meet Roger Federer” said Saina.

Earlier, Mr. Gill failed to recognise the former All England champion when the National coach accompanied Saina to the Minister’s chamber.

“Aap Kaun?” was what Mr. Gill asked Gopi when he saw him standing next to Saina. When told, Mr. Gill was quick to state how he followed his playing career.