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Regular-article-logo Wednesday, 16 July 2025

All top 10 players are dangerous: Saina

Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan has become a “bogey” player for Saina Nehwal in international circuit. Currently the world No. 1, she has defeated the Indian star nine times in a row, the latest being in the Asian championships semi-finals last month.

Our Special Correspondent Published 06.05.18, 12:00 AM
Saina Nehwal

New Delhi: Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan has become a “bogey” player for Saina Nehwal in international circuit. Currently the world No. 1, she has defeated the Indian star nine times in a row, the latest being in the Asian championships semi-finals last month.

On Saturday, Saina hailed Tai Tzu as one of the best players in recent times but said she should be able to overcome the Taiwan girl in the next couple of matches.

“She is a very tricky player… she picks up those difficult shots and makes us struggle in the next ones. That’s her very positive challenge. But I am sure that in the next one of two matches against her, I will be able to get the measure of her,” said the 2018 Commonwealth Games (CWG) gold medallist.

The entire Indian badminton squad, including Saina, PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth, was in the capital for the felicitation ceremony organised by the Badminton Association of India (BAI) for the team’s fine show in the CWG.

The function in a five-star facility, however, raised a lot of eyebrows, as the dais was kept reserved only for senior BAI and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) officials. The players were made to sit among the audience and came up only when their names were called. However, there were lots of cash prizes for them and the support staff after lengthy speeches by the officials. 

Speaking about her Asian championships semi-final defeat against Tai Tzu Ying, Saina said: “It was a matter of last two points where she became more aggressive before I could realise it. In both the games, I was leading. But she suddenly changed the game. I was moving well, enjoying myself and really wanted to win. But I should have been more alert in the later stages,” said Saina, who lost 25-27, 19-21.    

On her CWG final victory over Sindhu, her third against her Hyderabad city-mate, Saina said it was only like playing another final match.

“It is not about playing Sindhu… It was about playing an opponent. I try to win against whichever player I play. I definitely have issues with some of the players but I stay comfortable. I keep working on my weak areas. All the top 10 players in the world are dangerous… you have to extremely careful,” she said.

The Asian Games in August, Saina said, would be an extremely tough meet. “The Asian Games is of the same level as the Olympics. But we are going there with a good mindset,” she said.

While Saina received a cash award of Rs 20 lakh for winning the women’s singles gold medal at the CWG, Sindhu and Srikanth received Rs 10 lakh each for their silver medal efforts. The entire squad was awarded Rs 50 lakh for winning the team championships.

Chief coach Pullela Gopichand, however, refused to be dragged into any comparison between his two wards and said both players are equally important to him.

“Saina and Sindhu are my two precious diamonds. While training in Hyderabad, there is one winner and one loser every day. It is part of the game… it encourages the winner and urges the loser to raise the bar,” he said.

Sindhu said she was happy to play the final of a big tournament like CWG. “People say I lose in the final. But they should see that I reach the title round of major tournaments. I am pleased with my performance and progress,” she said.

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