Vimal Kumar is known to speak his mind and has always done so with authority — as a player, chief national coach and later, co-founder and director of the Prakash Padukone badminton academy in Bangalore. So, when he says that India's badminton ace Saina Nehwal, his latest high profile ward, can become World No 1 soon, one must take him seriously.


Saina Nehwal after winning the China Open on Sunday. Pic/AFP 

When Nehwal decided to move away from her long-time coach and former all-England champion Pullela Gopichand just before the Incheon Asian Games and chose Vimal, it raised eyebrows.