Im not thinking about the Olympics yet

The south-east Asian swing of tournaments scheduled for this time of the year has yielded some good finals and grand titles for Saina Nehwal

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The south-east Asian swing of tournaments scheduled for this time of the year has yielded some good finals and grand titles for Saina Nehwal. Shell half wish the Olympics could be held hereabouts in June,for such has been her brush with good tidings in the month for the past three years.

At the Thailand Open,a Grand Prix Gold event,the top Chinese werent in action,but Saina still had to dispose of Inathanon Ratchanok,a teenaged prodigy and thrice Junior World Champion,before she could lay her hands on the trophy.

Inthanon is very talented,and has good strokes,power and attack, Nehwal said later. I found confidence in my defense and then played some good rallies at the net, she summed up. The Thai sensation has claimed some big names in the last year and half,but Nehwal wasnt about to join the list,even as the din of the home crowd was egging on her opponent. Its noise at the end of the day,and all of Asia is noisy. Im used to it, she said.

The clamours been rising back home too for a reassuring title in the run-up to the Olympics. Nehwal last won the Swiss title in February,and expects the pitch to rise over the next month,also greater scrutiny. Im not thinking about it, she brushes off the Olympics,adding that her plan this June was to aim for Thailand,and then for Indonesia a bigger test with the Chinese out in full numbers and everyone turning out determined to learnt the most,and reveal very little of their own.

Coach Gopichand is advising the simplest form of de-cluttered preparation in the lead-up to London Games. I want her to eat well,sleep well,and rest well, he says,delineating rest,when awake and from pressure,from the sleeping rest,carefully. If she sticks to that,the rest will take care of itself, he states,adding that now more than before he will urge a one match at a time-approach.

The coach may have ticked the strategy box for the day in his notes,but says her strokes can get better. Its not the winners at the net alone that make me happy,moreover the way shes setting it up in the rally to lead to those winners, he says. The title in itself is all very well 8211; get as many wins as possible before the Olympics he says,adding that this doesnt make the job at London any easier or difficult.