Click to play video16-year-old go to school, study hard and have fun too. But here's another 16-year-old who besides doing all this, is the next big thing in the world of badminton. Fresh from her exploits at the World Junior Championship where she finished second, shuttling ace Saina Nehwal spoke to CNN-IBN's Roma Khanna.
Saina Nehwal: It was really tough as I even played the team championship so I think i played matches for the entire two weeks that I was there. It was really tough and I played with all the top players. It was really great and I never thought that I could reach the final. Everything just went on right.
Roma Khanna: You twisted your ankle and you still played a very good match in the final though you lost. Are you disappointed?
Saina Nehwal: Yeah. Actually what happened was that when I was playing in the team event against Korea in the quarter-final my ankle twisted a bit but my trainer took care of that and she told me to keep ice, to apply some ointment. That helped me a lot and though pain was not there but swelling was there.
Roma Khanna: From 150 last year to now when your ranking is 32, you have seen a lot of change and won quite a bit. Did you expect the same?
Saina Nehwal: No, I never thought that by the end of the year. I though that I would be 40 but my victory in the Philippine Open and in some tournament that I performed well really changed my expectations for the year. I thought let's me try and come under 40 to about 30 or 32.
Roma Khanna: You have won a bronze at the Commonwealth Games and with the Asian Games in December, what is your target? It is going to be a very tough competition for you.
Saina Nehwal: It will be really tough because the medal in the Commonwealth Games was in the team event but in Asiad there won't be any team event for girls as only two girls are going. As for the individual events all the top players would be playing there. The top 20 players are from Asia and I think it will be a very good fight. I like fighting with the players and I just want to give my best at the Asian Games.
Roma Khanna: Do you feel the pressure to perform as you are doing well. People are talking about you and coming towards you, so what sort of pressure is on you?
Saina Nehwal: Everyone keeps on telling that I should win. Even I have it in my mind but the first thing is to perform well and play well so that it satisfies me. It's really good that everyone thinks that I should win. The pressure is there but I don't have to think about all that. I want to concentrate on my game and I don't want to think about that. I just want to play well.
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