Denmark Open: Saina Nehwal faces tough challenge

16 October, 2012

Saina Nehwal, London Olympic bronze medalist will be competing against the best players of the world in the Denmark Open. She didn't get enough time to train for the competition, but would give her best, as always.

SAINA NEHWAL has not played any competitive tournament after her great performance in the 2012 London Olympics, where she won a bronze medal for India. She has been busy attending different functions in and around the country, where she has been felicitated by various organizations for her medal winning performance. But, she has to keep all such things on her back and move forward as she is scheduled to participate in the Denmark Open in Odenese.

It is not going to be an easy task for the Olympic medalist, as there would be some top shuttlers in action in the tournament. In her first match, she would be facing Korean shuttler, Bae Yeon Ju, who has had the better of her when they met last in the Indian Open. As always, it is the first match, where the players are still getting acclimatised to the conditions and the crowd, so they need more time to adjust. But, the Indian shuttler may not require much time against the Korean girl, against whom, the Indian has a better head to head record.

She has not had a good practise session (only 5 weeks) before the tournament for various reasons. The Times of India reported that her coach, Pullela Gopichand also agrees that her first match could be a critical, as she is playing after a long gap, but considers the Chinese test to be the most difficult one. If all goes well in the initial rounds, Saina would meet the Chinese girls, who have been a dominant force in the world of badminton.

Irrespective of the lack of training, tough opponents and long absence from the game, Saina is someone who will give it her all when she turns up in the court in Indian colours. She has the game and the talent to clinch the Denmark Open, if she plays up to her potential.