After a fruitless 2013, Saina Nehwal fought back in style in 2014. On Sunday, when she defeated the 35th-ranked Akane Yamaguchi of Japan 21-12 22-20 in 43 minutes for her eighth Superseries title, and third Superseries Premier, in Fuzhou (China), the Hyderabadi assured herself of a place in next month's Superseries Finals in Dubai.
Nehwal's win against the 17-year-old qualifier and world junior champion fetched her a third title this year. She had also won the Indian Grand Prix Gold in January and the Australian Open Superseries in June.
Besides form issues, the World No. 5 had to battle injuries and a change of training base, from Hyderabad to Bangalore, during the year. "It is a great win. Hopefully, we will have a few more coming in the next few tournaments and next year as well," said chief national coach P Gopichand. For the record, Nehwal trained with Gopichand for several years before shifting to the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in Bangalore a few months ago.
Often lauded for her mental strength and guiding the other Indian girls, Nehwal beat three local players at the China Open. U Vimal Kumar, chief coach of PPBA where Nehwal began training just before the Asian Games, told dna, "For her psyche, Saina beating three Chinese in the earlier rounds is not easy. Even Yamaguchi has beaten top Chinese girls very convincingly. Saina is still young and will definitely be a big threat to many of the Chinese. This win will give her the confidence. She will feel very good and I think it is a very positive result."
Nehwal termed her latest title as "one of the toughest". "I have been working really hard for the last few months and I am extremely happy that my efforts bore fruit," Nehwal was quoted, as saying, by PTI. "It has not been easy for me. Vimal sir helped me a lot and it is a huge victory and a great feeling to win the title in China," she said.
Nehwal has been working on certain aspects of her game. "We have been concentrating on her movements," Kumar said. "The practice sessions are intense. We don't let her relax. We are trying to introduce deception in her game. She can use her wrists a little more effectively now. Otherwise, she has the brute force. We are just trying out some things so she can unsettle the Chinese, who have of late, started reading her very well."
As is often the case, Nehwal bumps into China's Shixian Wang invariably in the quarterfinals. She went down to Wang in the round of eight in her last two tournaments, the French and Denmark Opens. "In France, she was very comfortably placed, leading 11-3 in the third game before losing to Wang. I thought she would make it there. Saina will play in Hong Kong next week. She should take it as if the task is not finished. She has to perform. It is a gruelling circuit. Then she gets a two-wee break before the Superseries Finals in Dubai," Kumar said.
As it is difficult for Kumar to travel with Nehwal for every tournament, the 24-year-old still keeps in touch with her coach on the phone. "She messages me. That's how I keep in touch. I find it difficult to travel to so many tournaments. I have told her that we can help her out here in Bangalore. Maybe I will travel to Dubai," Kumar said.
He added that Nehwal's sessions with Prakash Padukone have helped her regain confidence. "Talking to him and his experiences helps Saina a lot. Prakash has also been travelling. She did have a talk with him initially and that has helped her calm down a bit. It is easy for them to connect. He has also had some difficult times in his career. She also needs to believe that nothing is wrong (with her game) and that everyone is out to help her. I am quite happy at least this win can give her a lot of positive energy and she can be a lot more positive in everything she does and things will turn around for her."
Up next for Nehwal is the Hong Kong Superseries in Kowloon (November 18-23). "I am focused to do well in Hong Kong. I won the tournament in 2010 and I am in good shape now. The confidence of this win will help me to do well there," Nehwal said. "I am also looking forward to the BWF World Super Series Final in Dubai. That is my ultimate target now."
ROAD TO GLORY
First Round: Beat Sayaka Takahashi (JPN) 21-14 19-21 21-17
Second Round: Beat Qin Jinjing (CHN) 21-18 21-18
Quarterfinals: Beat Suo Di (CHN) 21-13 17-21 21-15
Semifinals: Beat Liu Xin (CHN) 21-17 21-17
Final: Beat Akane Yamaguchi (JPN) 21-12 22-20
NEHWAL'S SUPERSERIES TRIUMPHS
2014: Australian Super Series, China Open Super Series Premier
2012: Indonesia Open Super Series Premier, Denmark Open Super Series Premier
2010: Singapore Open Super Series, Indonesia Open Super Series, Hong Kong Open Super Series
2009: Indonesia Open Super Series
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}