My Coach Tells me I am a Special Child, says World No. 1 Again Saina Nehwal
Saina Nehwal has become world No. 1 again. Her first run as the world's top badminton player lasted less than a week.
The fluctuating and complex nature of rankings in sports has smiled on "special child" Saina Nehwal again. The top Indian shuttler has become world No. 1 less than a fortnight after losing it. Saina, who skipped last week's Singapore Open, is preparing in Bangalore for the Asian badminton championships in China starting April 21.
Saina's elevation to the No. 1 spot has come after Olympic champion Li Xuerui dropped crucial points after skipping the Singapore Open.
Saina, the first Indian woman shuttler to be world number one after her India Open Grand Prix Gold triumph earlier this month, had dropped to second place following her semifinal finish in the Malaysia Open Super Series
"Didn't dream of this happening. Nobody gets to be world number one for the second time," Saina told NDTV on Thursday.
It's been a dream year for Saina so far after she dropped to No. 9 in the world. "I lost confidence. My coach Vimal Kumar helped me get my confidence back. I thank myself too! I have worked very hard," she said.
Last year before the Incheon Asian Games, Saina changed coaches. She left Pulella Gopichand in Hyderabad to join former national coach Vimal Kumar in Bangalore.
"The shift to Bangalore has proved even luckier for me. Vimal Kumar told me I am a special child," said Saina, who almost quit badminton in August last year.
Saina looks very determined to win her next Super Series title in China.
"I hate losing . I am playing the best badminton of my life, but can still do better," she told NDTV.
Saina congratulated Sania Mirza for becoming the world's No. 1 doubles team in tennis.
"Happy to read about Sania. It's not about Hyderabad, it is about the hard work you put in," Saina, a London Olympics bronze medallist, said.