Saina Nehwal eyes World championships

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New Delhi: Indian world number six Saina Nehwal is training her sights on the world championships after the Indonesian Super Series title last month made her the toast of her medal-starved nation.

Nehwal, 19, will carry the weight of expectations in the Aug. 10-16 championships in her hometown Hyderabad after becoming the first Indian woman to win a super series title, in Jakarta on June 21.

"I still can't believe, after coming back I'm still thinking whether I even played that tournament," Nehwal, still dizzy with the success, told Reuters in an interview.

Nehwal has attended a series of receptions and endless media interviews since returning home, with her win compared to the All-England championship triumphs by compatriots Prakash Padukone, in 1980, and her coach Pullela Gopichand (2001).

Nehwal aims to shut out distractions from Monday when she resumes serious training for the world championships.

"I'm having a good time, enjoying this moment," gushed Nehwal. "(But) I know it is not the end, I still have to work hard and the biggest tournament of the year is lined up.

"I've been playing with a lot of expectations in the past one-and-half years.

"Right now, my focus is to play 100 percent and beat the player, not to take unnecessary pressure on my shoulders.

"I should not start thinking I have to play for the people or win for them.

"When I go onto the court, I should think I'm playing for myself, and I'm happy doing that."

Rankings Rise

Nehwal has enjoyed a superb run in the last 18 months, rising from world number 33 at the start of 2008 by winning three international titles in 2008, including the world junior title.

She also reached the Olympic quarter-finals -- where she squandered a 11-5 lead in the decider against Indonesia's Maria Kristin Yulianti -- and was chosen as the most promising player of the year by the Badminton World Federation.

In the Indonesian Super Series, Nehwal clinched back-to-back wins over tough Chinese rivals.

She defeated Lu Lan in the semi-finals before overcoming current world number two Lin Wang in the final, rallying from 2-7 to clinch the decider 21-9.

"It gives huge confidence to have beaten two Chinese players in one tournament," she said.

"Sometimes you beat one of them and just relax. I feel if I build so much more stamina, I can beat four in a row."