Pullela Gopichand declares Saina Nehwal greatest Indian shuttler – Badminton Update
India’s badminton queen Saina Nehwal fetched first Olympic medal and the national coach Pullela Gopichand declared her the greatest shuttler in the country.
The London Games was Saina’s second appearance in the mega event and she did not draw a blank. She claimed a bronze medal and became the first Indian shuttler with an Olympic medal.
Former All England Champion Pullela Gopichand, who now trains national campaigners in his academy, commended young female player and stated that she has left all the seniors far behind in terms of achievements in the international circuit.
The badminton guru also hoped that she will touch new heights in the future as she is still young and has enough time to make a long lasting impact in the arena.
He said, "She has done better than all of us. She is phenomenal. The greatest thing is she is young. There are many years to go."
The 22-year-old Saina is likely to play until 2020 which means she will represent the country in next two Olympics, two Commonwealth Games, Six World Championships and eight editions of All England Open.
In recently concluded London Olympics, she managed to earn a place in top four shuttlers of the event but she could not clear the semi-final round and lost to top seeded Wang Yihan of China.
However, World Number five made amends in play-off round by snatching bronze medal from another Chinese campaigner Wang Xin who conceded walk over due to a knee injury.
Gopichand looked ecstatic over this success and stated that Saina has done something which he always wanted to do throughout his career.
He said, "I am really fortunate that though I didn't win a medal in my playing time, I won a medal in my life time."
Though, few critics believe that it was sheer luck as Saina was struggling after losing the opening game in bronze medal match and she was on the verge of a straight-set defeat but Gopichand declared it a result of hard work during past few months.
He briefed the media the way they adjusted their daily life just to give all their attention to London Olympics preparations which ultimately yielded good results.
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