Easy rests the crown

No Chinese in the fray,but No.1 seed Saina Nehwal cant discount other threats in her bid to win home Super Series.

Saina Nehwal was at ease holding sachets of fruit drinks and wearing a plastic smile for the shutterbugs,her face heavy with grease paint during a promotional event.

Saina is used to the attention since she has won Super Series events,including two last year. But as television cameras moved closer,Saina fast ran out of space. Saina took the moment in her stride before dismissing worries about her recurring ankle injury going into the Indian Open,the first Super Series to be held at home,which she is expected to win.

A few kilometres away,World No. 9 and second seed Tine Baun,a player Saina hasnt beaten,taped her right heel after a training session at the Siri Fort Sports Complex,venue for the India Open.

Baun had just finished practicing with fellow Dane and World No. 6 Peter Gade.

Aggressive Tine

Coming into the tournament after a seven-week injury lay-off,Baun isnt making predictions about her chances against Saina in a potential clash in the final. The Dane beat the Indian en route to her second All-England Championship title last year. At 31,Baun is no spring chicken. Saina rates her highly because of her vast experience and the aggressive brand of badmintion the Dane plays,but there will be others who will pose an equal,if not greater threat to the Indian star.

As Baun and Gade wrapped up practice,a group of Japanese players walked in. Among them was Eriko Hirose,who Saina will face,if she overcomes the World No.12s compatriot Ai Goto in the first round. The top three Chinese in the world Wang Shixian,Wang Yihan and Wan Xin have given the event a skip,courtesy the league back home,but in Hirose and Baun,Saina has tough potential opponents.

Even though the Chinese are not here,it is not going to be easy. All other players are playing really well. And Tine Baun is here. Even the Koreans and the Japanese have improved a lot. It is not going to be easy, Saina said.

Hirose challenge

Story continues below this ad

This is the third consecutive tournament where Hirose and Saina are set to clash,with honours even so far. The Japanese won their All England match-up last month before the Indian levelled scores at the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold.

Overall,though,Hirose has a 3-2 record. But Saina can take consolation that Hirose is the only player in her half of the draw with a superior head-to-head record.

On the other side,there is the tall,powerful and aggressive Baun. As the Dane cooled down after training,she stood by the railings to watch Hirose battle three of her team mates. Aware of her commercial commitments,Saina practiced in the morning before returning for a late evening session.

She tested her sore ankle,a niggle she picked up during the Hong Kong Open last year. But she knows well that,at the biggest-ever badminton tournament in India,injury wont be an excuse if she fails.

Story continues below this ad

It was hurting during the All-England and the Swiss Open but now it is not paining and I am feeling fit, Saina said.

In October last,Saina won the Commonwealth Games gold at the same venue. She has also won the World Junior gold and a GP gold title in India. Yet,winning a Super Series title at home will be special.

This stadium is lucky. I hope I can win again.