Saina Nehwal can beat any Chinese player: Pullela Gopichand

Pullela Gopichand tells DNA that Saina Nehwal can go all the way at Worlds.

How do you rate Saina’s chances?
She has beaten all the players in her side of the draw. As a matter of fact, she also has lost to some of them. So, if she plays well, I think it should not be a problem for her to beat them again.

She has had a mixed year so far. Is it more because of the form or is she still recovering from her injury?
I think at 21, what she has achieved is fantastic. I don’t think there is anything to worry. There isn’t anything to panic about as such. She has lost a couple of times recently but I think that is fine. If you can believe in yourself and back yourself, I don’t think it should be a problem as such. Saina consistently puts in the efforts so it’s all fine.

Has she made any changes in her game?
There are no major changes as such. I think you keep improving your game all the time and make additions and subtractions. In the last four weeks, we had enough time to check her movements on court and the other areas where she was lacking in the previous tournaments.

Any particular player from China who can bother Saina…
That depends on how fit the Chinese players are coming in to the tournament and how fit Saina is. I mean, China comes up with a new world beater at the drop of a hat. All of them are at their peak always and you really can’t rate one better than another. So, I really don’t know if any specific player would be a threat to her. Saina, too, can beat anyone of them.

Did the rumours about the split between you and Saina affect the preparations as such?
Things are back to normal for over last two months and the focus is back on every single tournament. We have Worlds and
then Olympics to look forward to.