Click to play videoSaina Nehwal on June 21, 2009, became the first Indian woman to win a Super Series tournament when she defeated China's Wang Lin in the final of Indonesian Open.
The 19-year-old shuttler won the final in a tough-setter 12-21 21-18 21-9 to clinch the title. After winning her first ever super series badminton title in Indonesia, Saina Nehwal arrived in Hyderabad, her home city on Saturday.
She spoke to CNN-IBN about her win, dreams and future plans.
CNN-IBN: You said after winning the Indonesian Open that you wouldn't sleep that night. Did you sleep finally? What was the moment like after winning the Super Series?
Saina Nehwal: It was great. The podium and the Super Series gold medal was a great achievement. I still can't believe that I played those five tough rounds and won such a big tournament. That night after winning the match I came to the mall shopping. I couldn't sleep in the night. I was just sitting on the bed and thinking about the match. Next day morning I got up at 5 and went to the gym for training. I just couldn't sleep that night and the next day I was juts looking at the medal. I was just holding it and kissing it. I still can't believe that I won such a big title beating two Chinese.
CNN-IBN:The Chinese have dominated this sport but on your way to the title you beat two of them. Do you think that you have broken that barrier now?
Saina Nehwal: Yeah, I think it's now broken and even we can beat the Chinese players. We just have a feeling that they are from China and we won't be able to match them. But I think now it's not so difficult because you just have to work much more and try your best, give your best against them. I am sure that even they can't last for long. The way I played Wang Lin... she was so tired in the third set. It was never expected that a Chinese player can get so tired. It is just that you have to keep on working and make them move, run. Even they get tired. In the first few games they are more alert and hit a lot. But if you pick all the shuttles, run a lot then they just get very tired. So a player should never give up playing against them. You have to just try. They are also human being and you have to just try your best.
CNN-IBN: The one thing that stands out in you is the discipline and hard work that you put in. You said how after you won you couldn't sleep but you still went to the gym the next morning. In fact your coach says you are hard working. Is that something you have inculcated over the years or is that something that you know you need to do in your bid to become No. 1?
Saina Nehwal: First of all I just love working hard. I never thought of winning such big tournaments in my life. I was just working hard. I never though that I should some day be winning All England or world championships or Olympic medal. I was working, working and working for the past eight years and the result is that now I am winning tournaments. Actually I dream of winning an Olympic gold because I work so hard. So it's tough to work hard because you have to out lot of energy and you have give eight to nine hours of full dedication and discipline. So it's tough by I really love doing it. I have been doing it. That is why I believe I can beat the Chinese players now consistently.
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