Attacking Saina to face Bulgarian mirror image in pre-quarters

Aware that she would have to counter the noisy Indian supporters apart from the opponent,Nedelcheva also insists their past record wont matter either. The tenth seeded Bulgarian won when they met the first time a year ago,but was swatted aside on the way as Nehwal claimed her historic Indonesian title a month ago.

Tomorrow will be different. Strategies will be freshly drawn and Ive pushed myself very hard. You can expect me to not make things easy for her, she says.

Looking back at their careers,Nehwal seems to have done all the right things even before leaving her teens,while the 26-year-old has stumbled through injuries and indifference to badminton in Bulgaria,besides her own shortcomings since she was crowned the national singles and doubles champ at 18 and then picked five straight European titles.

I had a strong smash and mainly an attacking game,but then I went through a lot of injuries and setbacks before I realised I needed to develop a well-rounded,tactical game. Sainas already doing that,and the only thing that she needs to be wary of is injuries, she says.

Hurting too much

The bulky Bulgarian more suited for doubles but continuing to play singles since her nation couldnt produce a worthy successor jokes she has a body held together by glue. The injury list,after all,reads: an over-used shoulder,excruciatingly painful back,two surgeries to the right knee and a tennis-elbow five months ago. Badminton is not a big sport back home,so we have no funds. Ive never travelled with a physio,that means no massage and no recovery. Ive learnt to play with the pain though, she says.

Nehwals move from Hissar to Hyderabad is famous,Nedelchevas from Stara Zagora to capital Sofia also ensured she was training with a dependable coach,Orlin Tsvetanov,a few years after she started playing in school at 12. Nobody knew the sport in my town,and not much has changed now though I reached No 8 two years ago, she says.

Nedelcheva does admit that she envies Nehwals success against the Chinese perhaps the most defining aspect contrasting the two careers.

Saina played really well against the Chinese at Indonesia. Ive always played three sets with them,but kept losing. Earlier,I didnt know how to play them,now I think I understand, says the Bulgarian who once lost to Olympic champ Zhang Ning after frittering four match points.

On Thursday though,Nehwal will cease to be the new rising star commanding respect. Ive had my struggles,and I think I owe myself the big wins now. Starting Saina, she finishes.