Mature Saina ready for Uber Cup burden

Saina Nehwal was 13 when she was picked for her first senior international tournament the Uber Cup qualifiers and travelled with her Indian team mates,most double her age....

Saina Nehwal was 13 when she was picked for her first senior international tournament the Uber Cup qualifiers and travelled with her Indian team mates,most double her age. I was there only for cheering, she recalls of the Malaysia trip six years ago. Today,armed with smashes and drops and power and ploys,Nehwal has moved up from the cheering bench into the leading role of the countrys Uber Cup preliminaries campaign in Nakornratchasima,Thailand. Nehwals individual capability shes the highest ranked player at the Thailand meet might not be enough in this team event though.

The Indian women start their campaign against Hong Kong in Group Y on Monday. Indias second rung isnt of the highest repute,and Nehwal will be expected to win her one point. Hong Kongs sweet-smiling,wily Zhou Mi is an old nemesis. Their first,second and third singles players are all equally good. But Jwala (Gutta) and Ashwini (Ponappa) have been playing well,and Trupti (Murgunde) is also looking good, Nehwal says.

It will be important for me to win my match,but I cant let that pressure affect me, Nehwal says of the coming week when Japan,Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei will offer steep challenges to the Indians,with Philippines providing the only likely breather in the five-match ties comprising three singles and two doubles matches. Asian qualifiers are always going be tough because they are all quality sides. But the next step,the Uber Cup Finals,is even tougher,so we might as well be prepared for it, she adds.

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The month-long training in Hyderabad has been intensive,focussing on hard strength and stamina. Weve trained well,and Im far more experienced now, Nehwal says of her first Uber Cup prelims outing since she entered the world top-10.

The last time around,the Hyderabad player had won most of her games in Vietnam,though Indias lack of depth in singles,and a pretty abject second doubles have proved to be a constant bane in the highly competitive Asian zone. This will also be the first Uber Cup qualifying event when Indias dependable pair of the last decade Shruti Kurien and Gutta could play with different partners after their split on the circuit last year.

It should not depend on one or two players,but well need to increase our depth and raise the quality very quickly if we have to do well in team events, Nehwal stresses. Personally,Im feeling the fittest after some time now,and Im getting increasingly consistent, she adds.

Men start against Sri Lanka

PLACED in Group C in the Thomas Cup preliminary tie,the strong Indian mens squad will start against Sri Lanka on Monday. While Cambodia will pose no more of a danger than the Lankans,Indias sternest test is scheduled to come against hosts Thailand on Wednesday. Everyones in good shape and our chances of qualifying are rather good this time, says Indian captain Chetan Anand,who is hoping that the Indians can top the group and get an easier passage into the next round by playing Singapore or Vietnam rather than running into giants Indonesia.

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