"What I’ve Achieved Is Miraculous"

At a time when India’s much loved and glorified cricketers lost (on March 26) in the World Cup semifinal to  Australia in Sydney and disappointed legions of aficionados, Saina Nehwal has done the country proud by becoming the world’s No. 1 woman badminton player on March 28. It is not only yet another dazzling feather in her already inundated cap, but also a landmark achievement for Indian sport.

Outlook was the first to interview her soon after she reached the top spot in women’s badminton. Excerpts:

How are your feelings on becoming the World's No. 1 player?

Obviously I’m very, very happy. In fact, I’m thrilled. Now that I’ve reached the No. 1 position, there’re bound to be more and more expectations of me. And enormous responsibility as well. Of course, I’ll try, as I’ve always tried in my career, to live up to them and bring more laurels for the country. And I’ll also strive harder to sustain the No. 1 position for a longer period.

Did you ever imagine in your life that you would achieve the top rank in women's badminton?

No. Never. All I wanted in life was to justify my talent and try to be as excellent a player as I could be. I think I’ve long achieved that goal. But never ever in my life did I dream or imagine to become the world’s No. 1 woman badminton player. So what I’ve achieved is miraculous, really. I still can’t believe this.
 
To what would you ascribe your ascend to the summit?

To my coaches, my parents, my fans and my well-wishers for their continuous support and encouragement. Without their confidence and faith in my ability, as well as sustained encouragement, I wouldn’t have been the player I’m today, let alone achieving the top rank. My earlier coach Pullela Gopichand sir and my present coach Vimal Kumar sir have played a very important role in sharpening my talent and turning me into a competitive, world-class player. I’m always grateful to both of them.

So what is next in your priority list?

I want to win more and more titles. I’ve so much to achieve for my country still. I want to remain the No. 1 badminton player in the world for as long as I can. And I want to win a medal in the next Summer Olympic Games at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in 2016.

What are your immediate goals?

Immediate goals? Well, I want to continue to work hard towards my game and become sharper than ever. And I want to remain fit as a fiddle. I’ll also ensure that I don’t carry with me the burden and the pressure of being the world’s No. 1 player when I’m on the court. My focus will always be my game and my opponent. And my goal will always be to try and win all the matches I play. I think this is reasonable enough.

What has been your forte as a badminton player all these years? And weakness, if any?

I think it is my iron will, more than anything else, to do justice to my badminton game, which is my bread and butter. If you mean technically, I think my coaches and other observers are better suited to comment on it. I can’t myself say with any certainty what my forte and weakness are as a badminton player. All I can say is I’m happy with whatever talent I’ve and I always try to play within my limitations.

Do you realistically believe that India is now a major force in world badminton?

Yes, of course. India is a major badminton nation. Today, we’ve 10 shuttlers, girls as well as boys, who are among the top badminton players of the world. More and more youngsters are turning towards badminton, which is a healthy sign. Hopefully, my becoming the world’s No. 1 player will also inspire many to take up badminton as a career. Overall, the picture is very rosy.

How long do you want to continue playing?

I just love playing badminton. There is no other thing that I want to do at the moment. I’m only 25, fit and healthy. So I want to continue playing till my body permits.

Do you think Indians in general have both inclination and time for sports other than cricket?

I don’t think so. Cricket continues to rule India and Indians. It’s a big – very big – sport. But I’m happy to notice that other sports like archery, badminton, boxing, shooting and wrestling are also getting momentum.

What is your message for budding badminton players in India?

Work hard. Remain focused. Remain fit and healthy. Remain dedicated to your coaches and parents.