Number one is still a distant dream: Saina

Amit Kumar Das

New Delhi, July 4 (PTI) She is inching closer to being
among the world's top five and is tipped to be number one in
the next couple of years but ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal
says being numero uno is still a very distant dream.

The legendary Prakash Padukone considers Saina talented
enough to be at the top in the next two years but the
20-year-old doesn't want to aim so high right now.

"Prakash sir has been very encouraging, I also want to be
the number one but I don't want to think about that now. I
would have to be at my best to achieve that. I have to be
consistent and win back-to-back tournament," Saina told PTI
after going up a rung to sixth in the latest world rankings.

She has become the first Indian woman and third overall,
after Pullela Gopichand and Padukone, to achieve such a
ranking.

"Once I crack the top-five, I will set my eyes on the top
three and then may be with time, the number one target will
come. But it is too distant a dream right now and so I think I
should concentrate more on my game," the Hyderabadi added.

The Indonesian Open champion said she is in good form and
wants to beat higher-ranked rivals more often to boost her
confidence.

"I am playing very well now and wining matches. I am
happy that I reached the sixth spot but my main focus is to
play more top ranked players and beat them. Once I do that
consistently, the ranking will automatically go up," Saina
said.

Saina would be seeded at the World Badminton Championship
in Hyderabad next month and the star shuttler said she expects
to get a good draw.

"The ranking is important now because the World Badminton
Championship is just a month away and with this ranking, I
will be seeded now and I hope to get a good draw.

"So this is one plus point but then there are many
players outside the top-10 who are really good and I have to
beat them to do well in the tournament," said Saina, who will
start training from Monday.

After her win in the Indonesian Open, Saina has been
compared with Gopichand and Padukone but the Hyderabadi girl
says it is unfair to bracket her with such legends of the
game.

"Gopi sir and Prakash Sir are the legends of the game.
They have achieved so much in life and I have just started
off. So comparing me with them is unfair.

"I have learnt a lot from both of them and I feel really
encouraged by their words. I would also like to reach such
heights in life and achieve much more," she said. PTI ATK
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