Road to Rio: India's badminton ace Saina Nehwal plays against four male competitors in her effort to capture the gold medal at the 2016 Olympics. We have the video, take a look...
India's badminton ace Saina Nehwal is one of the country's top medal prospects at the upcoming 2016 Olympics.
It's less than a fortnight for the start of the quadrennial event and Saina is hard at work looking to turn that bronze she won in London in 2012 into a gold this year.
ADVERTISEMENT
Saina Nehwal takes on four male competitors in her preparations for the 2016 Olympics
Saina, who has been seeded fifth at the Rio Games, has been practising for long hours and with different sparring partners in her effort to better her result at the event.
The Badminton Association of India (BAI) tweeted a short video of Nehwal's 'special' preparation for the quadrennial event.
The video shows the 26-year-old shuttler taking on four men on the badminton court in order to hone her skills ahead of the difficult campaign.
.@NSaina is preparing in full force ahead of #Rio2016 WATCH one of her practice sessions: https://t.co/TT7DBXl77d #SmashKartaJa
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) July 19, 2016
HERE'S THE VIDEO:
The star India shuttler, who is currently world no. 5 recently won the Australian Open Grand Prix Gold, and is injury free and looks in great shape. She not only takes on four men, but also doesn't miss a single shot in the forty second video.
The Indian shuttler said she is working hard on some of her weaker areas ahead of the Rio Games. "I am working hard on my half smashes to get closer to my goals. It is wonderful to win Australian Open prior to the Olympics. It is very satisfying to beat two world champions and a junior world champion in one tournament," added the girl from Hyderabad who won bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics said.
The 26-year-old is amongst the most decorated athletes in the country having won Arjuna Award, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Padam Shri and Padam Bhushan.
India's premier badminton star believes that her in-born go-getter attitude will help her overcome opponents, a couple of nagging injuries and pressure of expectations.
The former World No.1 has been bogged down by a couple of injuries at the start of the year and as the Olympic Games start on August 5, she is confident of not only reaching the peak of fitness but also meeting the expectations of 1,250 million Indians.
"I feel I am fit, with some nagging injuries. I am running nicely. At the end of the day, it's important that you reach the peak and play your best during that particular week. That's what will count ultimately and will be the key," Saina said in a recent interview.
"Moreover, mental conditioning is as important as your physical strengthening. I have been blessed to be born with a go-getter attitude. I like to win and having a positive mind set really helps."
This will be Saina's third Olympic Games. Over the years, she has learnt how to approach a key tournament.
"Rio is an ideal place to showcase my game. You can't predict results, you need hard work and God's blessing, apart from support of your family and fraternity," Saina said.
"I take each tournament as it comes. Rio Olympics will also be like any other games. My approach to the game is very positive and I would like to keep it like that and focus on my game.
"Coming with an experience, I feel that on the day that I am 100 per cent fit, I have the potential to defeat anyone. I do not feel pressure too much. The moment you are on the court nothing else matters," she added.
The competition for the women's singles may be the fiercest in recent editions.
Apart from the established names of reigning world champion Carolina Marin of Spain, Shixian Wang, defending champion Li Xuerui, and Yihan Wang -- all Chinese - Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand and Sung Ji Hyun of South Korea and the quick emergence of youngsters like India's very own double World Championship bronze medallist P.V. Sindhu, Japanese Nozomi Okuhara and Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei, means that no one is guaranteed success.
"I believe every player is there because they have the potential. Each game is going to be a tough game and each player will be a serious challenger," she said.
Keeping the challenge in mind, Saina is leaving no stone unturned to prepare for the battle. She revealed her daily schedule in Bengaluru under the watchful eyes of U. Vimal Kumar: "The entire day is spent in different sessions of training with sparring partners in three sessions of five hours in total -- two, two and one hour sessions," she said.
"Then there is full stretching with the physio, good nutritious meals and sound sleep. There is also a bit of entertainment on TV before I sleep," she added.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
