The disappointing exit from the Beijing Olympics quarter-final last year still rankles ace Indian woman shuttler Saina Nehwal who on Saturday said winning gold in the prestigious quadrennial sporting event remains on top of her agenda.
"Last year I played well in the Olympics but I was overexcited. I went blank. Next time I will try my best. It's my dream to win an Olympic gold," said the 19-year-old shuttler after she was honoured for her recent feats at the international level .
Saina was presented with a cheque of Rs 2.5 lakh by a group of city shuttle game lovers, "Badminton 45", and the Bombay Gymkhana for winning the singles crown in Indonesian Open Super Series event as well as rising to world number six soon afterwards.
The Hyderabad shuttler was also conferred with the honorary membership of the Gymkhana for a period of one year.
Saina praised her coach 2001 All England men's champion Pullela Gopichand for her meteoric rise in the world rankings.
"I do what Gopi Sir tells me to do. He is my idol and has improved my game so much. I was 136 four years ago and am number six in the world now. It's all because of him. I feel I'm close to world number one and that I can beat any player in the world," she said.
Asked whether she found herself at a disadvantageous position while comparing to the top Chinese shuttlers due to lack of effective sparring partner, Nehwal said, "no, I have Gopi Sir to practice with."
Gopichand, who saw the function being covered by a horde of television cameras, hoped his student would continue doing well to keep the media's interest in the game high that, he feels, would help inspire other shuttlers too.
"After her loss in the Beijing Olympics, I was reluctant to ask her whether she would come for practice the next day as per the routine. Still I asked and would not have been surprised had she refused, but all she wanted was just one extra hour's sleep," he said.
"After the Indonesian Open too, she was on court four hours after finishing her final. If she continues to do what is doing now she will take Indian badminton to a new level," Gopi added.
Image: Saina Nehwal is presented a cheque of Rs 2.5 lakh by Rajashree Birla on behalf of Badminton 45 at the Bombay Gymkhana in Mumbai.
Photograph: Milind Tambe
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