Saina won back-to-back titles in Thailand and Indonesia to send out a warning to other leading players that she will be the player to beat in next month's Games. Photo: AP
Enduring nerve-wrecking matches and coming out triumphant from tough situations has raised her confidence a lot ahead of London Olympics but ace shuttler Saina Nehwal says she still needs to fine-tune some aspects of her game before the mega event.
Saina won back-to-back titles in Thailand and Indonesia to send out a warning to other leading players that she will be the player to beat in next month's Games. "I feel I need to improve a lot. There is still a lot to be done. Whatever I did in these two tournaments, it was good. But I also found some weak areas, I have to work on those areas," Saina told PTI in an interview.
The 22-year-old from Hyderabad emerged victorious in the Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold in Bangkok earlier this month before claiming the Indonesia Open Super Series Premier title in Jakarta last week. "The two tournaments, I won at a stretch are very important. It is a new thing again for me. Because, since last year, I was looking for good wins," Saina said.
"I am happy that I beat top players in these two tournaments. I am happy that there were memorable moments like playing for one hour 40 minutes and winning those tough matches," she added.
Asked how she managed to come back in the final as she had lost the first game and was two-match point down in the second game, Saina said she was determined to do well. "I was not thinking that I am going to lose the match. I was only thinking about performing well and giving my best in each and every part. I think that attitude really helped me to win the second game. Because she (her rival) was two match points up but third game was a close fight.
"Every player at this point of time fights for each point. I also want to be one of them. I am happy that I did well in these two tournaments," she said.
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