Saina Nehwal is World No. 45
Author: NDTV
Date: 10 Jul 2006
Category: Tournament Results
Teenage badminton sensation Saina Nehwal has become World Number 45
following her title triumph at the Phillippines Open last month.
"It
was really a very good victory for me. It has given me great confidence
to play good and well-ranked players. The world number 4, I played in
the quarter-finals, was very experienced and very good," said Saina.
The
16-year-old, who became the first Indian woman player to win a
four-star badminton tournament, admitted that she came under pressure
in subsequent tournaments.
"I was confident in Philippines but
in the other tournaments, I was nervous and a bit tense. I had some
pressure on me but yes, I will not repeat those mistakes," said Saina
after failing to replicate her Philippines Open form at the Malaysian
Open.
Saina's coach is former All-England champion Pullela
Gopichand, who has now also been appointed as the national coach. Saina
said this move was the best thing to happen to Indian badminton.
Saina
has a hectic calendar this year. Her next tournament will be the Asian
Badminton Championship, where she will captain the Indian women's
junior team.
