The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Saina shines in Beijing

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Saina shines in Beijing

V. V. Subrahmanyam

Proves perfect complement to Bindra’s gold “shot”

Saina Nehawal

HYDERABAD: The focus was on the big guns. But, it was the unobtrusive Saina Nehawal who created a stir in Beijing Olympics. Creating history by becoming the first-ever woman shuttler from India to enter the quarter finals in any Olympics, this 18-year-old Hyderabad girls proved to be a perfect complement to the stunning gold ‘shot’ by Abhinav Bindra minutes before her match.

Well, it was history in Beijing for India on Monday. First, Abhinav Bindra became the first-ever Indian athlete to pick an individual gold in Olympics when he clinched the honours in the 10-m air rifle event. Then, Saina hogged the limelight with her stunning display.

For the rain-battered Hyderabadis, it is not just the clear skyline which brought cheers on Monday morning but the stunning performances of the athletes too. No doubt some of the die-hard sports-lovers like I. Ravinder Reddy of Kamalapuri Colony were denied to savour the historic moment thanks to the power cut. “This is disgusting to say the least,” he fumed.

City’s ace shooter Gagan Narang was unlucky not to figure in the 10-m air rifle medal round event earlier as he ruled out on count back despite level deled at the fifth place with a score of 595. But, he has two more events to make a strong statement later on.

It was Bindra who lifted the drooping spirit of the entire nation with that stupendous achievement. Call it coincidence or not, Saina, apparently inspired by that golden finish, scripted her own piece of history with an awesome 21-19, 11-21, 21-11 display against the World No. 4 Chen Wang of Hong Kong.

A mind-boggling performance especially in the decider when she took a 6-0 lead straightaway with a terrific blend of attack and defence. And, when she wrapped up the game, Saina kept a promise she made to her father before the start of Monday’s game.

“Dad, I am going to win today,” was the brief conversation she had with Harvir Singh.

The proud father was tense in the second game when contacted for an update - of his impressions on the game. “Oh God! I was scared especially after Saina lost the second game. In the end, it is a fantastic achievement,” he exclaimed.

For his part, Gopi Chand, Saina’s mentor and national coach who is there in Beijing, reminds having crossed the first hurdle, the Hyderabadi can only look ahead with greater confidence in the Games. Dronacharya S. M. Arif who first fine-tuned this champion shuttler in the formative years, says that what should separate this girl from the rest of the crowd is her remarkable movements on the court of late and tremendous grit. “She is the best medal hope now for India in badminton without doubt,”he remarked.

Will Saina finally come out of the shadow of Sania Mirza with a historic performance? Wait and hope.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh