Saina Nehwal is the new trend setter in Indian sports as the badminton player has been setting new benchmarks in the ongoing Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. She only stands one step shy of another achievement.
Saina is set to become the first ever Indian shuttler to win gold at the Commonwealth Games when she pits her wits against world number one Wong Mew Choo from Malaysia in the finals of the women’s singles later today.
Ranked as the world's third best player, Saina is the overwhelming favourite for today's match as she boasts of a super impressive record of 4-0 against Wong in head-to-head matches.
For a player who has won back-to-back titles in Chennai, Singapore and Indonesia, perhaps this is a purple patch for her. It seems as if the Indian badminton player is riding a wave-crest that has seen her demolish all her opponents at the CWG in New Delhi so far.
But in the semi-finals of the competition, Saina was given a scare by world number 19 as she stretched Nehwal to 3 games in the team event. Nevertheless, Saina is confident before the final and will be backed by a vociferous crown in Delhi later today.
Wong is also confident ahead of the match despite not having the home advantage who opined that although the home crowd will play its part in the game, the fact that she ran Saina very close in the team event gives her a moral boost ahead of the all important clash today. Wong hopes that it will be her day today after 4 straight defeats at the hands of the world number 3.
Wong won the 2009 Super Series Master and is best known for her remarkable endurance and exceptional stamina.
Both participants of the final rely on their rallies and net game and it will be very hard to draw the line between them.
Perhaps it will come down to the grit and determination only which may decide today's winner. Saina will give it her best shot as she is aware of her opponent’s strengths and is confident of finding a way around her opponent once again.
Saina has already beaten Wong on four occasions this year - at the Asian Championships in April, at the final of Indian Open, in the first round of Singapore Super Series Masters and most recently at the team event in the Commonwealth Games, New Delhi.
But Saina will be aware of her jinx while playing in India as she has never won a major title on home soil. However, she will be hoping to break this run as she vying for gold at the CWG.
Perhaps it is the pressure of the home crowd that plays on her nerves as it was evident at the 2009 World Championships in Hyderabad when she lost in the quarter-finals of the competition.
Today, she gets her shot at redemption. However, her opponent is not going to be a pushover as Wong is seeking a revenge for 4 straight defeats against the Indian hotshot.
Ahead of this match, Saina claimed that this will be the biggest match of her career. She also emphasized that she will not be under any pressure while playing in front of her home crowd and will not let anything get the better of her in today’s match.
Saina has also said that falling at the final hurdle will be a disappointment of the highest order and anything less than a win will never be satisfying.
Saina has said that there is little drift inside the hall, where the game will be played but she is used to it now and can even use it to her advantage against the Malaysian.
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