I146;m realistic, know can146;t win all meets: Saina

In days when a World Junior final was still a distant dream, Saina Nehwal idolised badminton8217;s maverick boy Taufik Hidayat.

In days when a World Junior final was still a distant dream, Saina Nehwal idolised badminton8217;s maverick boy Taufik Hidayat. 8220;I never had any women as role models,8217;8217; India8217;s latest badminton sensation recalls, opening up at the Goregaon Sports Club, where the 16-year-old is getting all the attention at the satellite event ahead of her male counterparts.

Badminton didn8217;t quite have a Steffi Graf in the years when Nehwal was growing up; moreover Hidayat had the easy swagger that endeared him to the world, also to India8217;s rapidly-rising star. 8220;He has the ability to raise his game, and beat anyone, whenever he wants to,8217;8217; she gushes, adding, 8220;he is the only person to hold the Olympic and World titles at the same time.8217;8217;

Those achievements are still aspirational, but the intent to fiercely dominate 8212; both opponents and situations 8212;just like her hero, while still maintaining a smooth relaxed playing style, has been evident through the last six months: when Nehwal picked up her first big Commonwealth Games medal at Melbourne, her maiden seniors title at Philippines, and finally exceeded expectations in reaching the junior world final at Incheon.

The Koreans were plain stunned into silence. 8220;In Korea they used to scream a lot for the local girls. But once I started winning, they simply stopped cheering and fell quiet,8217;8217; she smiles.

Playing at home, and with increased expectations of being the top seed, Nehwal promises she won8217;t be hassled. 8220;I don8217;t really feel the pressure. I know I can8217;t win all tournaments, I need to be realistic. But if I8217;m sure at the end of the match of having given my best, then I8217;m satisfied,8217;8217; she states.

Suddenly, furious fame also means a cacophony of scribes and others mobbing her to shake hands. 8220;I can8217;t help it,8217;8217; she says, before adding that when the talking began eating into her training, she switched off her cell phone and slept off. 45 missed calls on the display the day she entered the final at Incheon. 8220;I8217;ll get a 10-15 day break after the Asian Games,8217;8217; she says wistfully, though the youngster is eager for new challenges heading into Doha.