2012 turns out to be most productive season for Saina Nehwal – Badminton Feature
India’s badminton queen Saina Nehwal has been raising her country’s flag all over the world for many years and she has brought home several prestigious titles throughout her career but this ongoing season has turned out to be the most productive year for
her.
The 22-year-old shuttler has claimed top spots on the victory stand in four different tournaments and became the first Indian to clinch an Olympic medal this year. She also defended the Swiss Open title and elevated her status in the arena.
During this year, Saina has played 42 matches so far and she lost just seven which is proof of her dominance on the court. She emerged as Women’s Singles champion in Thailand Open, Indonesia Open, Denmark Open and Swiss Open whereas the most esteemed badminton
event of the year, the 2012 London Olympics saw her clinching a bronze medal.
World Number four Saina outshined prime contenders like Wang Shixian, Li Xuerui, Wang Xin, Juliane Schenk and Ratchanok Intanon on route to glory. Though, she missed two titles by losing to World Number one Wang Yihan but still she earned a great deal of
respect and admiration.
She could not rise in the first quarter of this season but the spirited Indian campaigner did not take much time to come out of her bad patch. She kick-started her successful journey by winning Swiss Open in March.
Saina was under huge pressure as she was the defending champion but she played with great conviction and saved the honour in a commendable manner. However, it was not an easy ride to victory as the prime Chinese shuttler Wang Shixian was in front of her
in the title match.
She did not show any sign of bewilderment and cast out her higher ranked rival with a splendid straight-set victory.
Next couple of months saw her struggling a bit as she had to face an early exit from Badminton Asia Championships and India Open but then 2012 Thailand Open helped her to regain her lost touch.
The Commonwealth Games gold medallist employed all of her brilliance and confidence to get back on track and her hard work paid off. She did not face any trouble in her way to grand finale. Saina showed great fighting spirit and raised the trophy by registering
a 2-1 victory over Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand.
This splendid win was followed by another superb performance in the Djarum Indonesia Open. This Grand Prix Gold event became crucial as it was the last prominent tournament before the London Games.
Saina alarmed all the top shuttlers by ruling the court in this event. She smacked Sung Ji Hyun and Wang Shixian in knockout rounds and then unseated Li Xuerui to claim the Women’s Singles crown.
Her next challenge was the much awaited 2012 London Olympics and she lived up to the billing by escorting the country to the second last round of this mega event. Though, the Indian campaigner could not gain access to the final round but she made amends
by snatching a bronze medal from Wang Xin of China.
This was not the end as her latest achievement is an unbeatable run in Yonex Denmark Open. She proved herself superior by overpowering world beaters like Wang Yihan, Juliane Schenk and Tine Baun.
Now these splendid performances have subjected her to a tough trial as her supporters’ expectations are touching the sky and Saina will have to be at top of the game if she wants to shoulder her responsibility in coming events like China Open, Hong Kong
Open, India Open and 2012 BWF Super Series Finals.
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