Saina Nehwal all praise for Tai Tzu-Ying's unpredictable approach
The Indian lost during the semi-final match and brought home a bronze medal.
By PTI |
JAKARTA: A 10th straight loss to the same opponent hurts and Indian badminton ace Saina Nehwal today conceded that she has just not been able to figure out world No.1 Tai Tzu-Ying given her huge repertoire of shots and an unpredictable approach.
Saina was beaten in straight games by Tai in the semifinals of the ongoing Asian Games, setting the Taipei player up against another Indian in Olympic silver-medallist P V Sindhu in tomorrow's final. Tai Tzu-Ying will compete against PV Sindhu in the finals "I need to be quicker and have smooth movements, lot more shots as well, to finish the rallies (against her). Somewhere she will catch you. Every rally is a different rally with her. Most players have set pattern but she has got a variety of shots," Saina said after the 17-21 14-21 loss.
"I definitely (need) the hand speed, bit more movement and not give her the chance to play her shots. There's a special quality. She is someone who is not easy to read. Not all the coaches can read her. As a player I have tried to read but she always comes up with a new shot."
Calling Tai a "complete" player, Saina said she wouldn't rate her own performance too badly today. "...you don't know where to play her and where to get the points, I was really confused there," she admitted.
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"I played well, she played ever better...so you have to be alert there. I tried to do but she has all kind of shots, even if you put her in a difficult position, she comes out of it."
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She came on the field, she played like a hero and left the stadium with more than a medal. What she wore was a sense of glory, victory and the honour of making her country proud. This is what the winners at the Asian Games have been living.
The ongoing games have seen strong and talented women bring home joy and glory.
Here's a look the women from Team India who are winning our hearts.
In Pic: Tennis player Ankita Raina (L), Shooter Rahi Sarnobat (C) and Wrestler Vinesh Phogat (R).
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The daughter of a van rickshaw puller, Barman was born with six toes on each foot.
The heptathlon is a seven-event contest which covers a range of track and field events and is spread over two days.
Swapna Barman created history as she became the first Indian woman to achieve a top podium finish in the gruelling heptathlon event at the Asian Games.
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Sudha Singh, national 3000m steeplechase champion, won the silver medal in the same event. The 32-year old won the gold medal when the event was first introduced in the Asian Games.
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Hima Das, an Assamese sprinter, grabbed the silver medal in women's 400 metre. The 18-year old broke her own national record by clocking 50.79 seconds.
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After Saina Nehwal brought home a bronze medal in the Asian Games, PV Sindhu grabbed the silver medal thereafter. The 23-year old is the first Indian to bring home a silver in women's single badminton event.
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Rahi Sarnobat became the first female Indian shooter to win a gold medal at the Asian Games.
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The Indian also said she did not get enough time to prepare for the Games as the event came close on the heels of a gruelling world championships, where she was a quarterfinalist.
"You have to have that game to beat her, to properly plan...but I tried. It's not like that you can't beat her. It's not impossible. You have to have a complete game because she has those deceptive shots to come out of difficult situations."
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"She definitely cracks, but you need to stick on with her till the end," she insisted.
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The cricketer, who gave bowlers sleepless nights with his big shots, fears fl ying the most. For a career packed with international tournaments, it’s a wonder how Sehwag managed to keep his fears at bay. In an interview, the former Indian opener said that the way a plane shakes and its rapid descents make him very fearful and that he would prefer not taking a fl ight, if he could.
The cricketer, who gave bowlers sleepless nights with his big shots, fears fl ying the most. For a career packed with international tournaments, it’s a wonder how Sehwag managed to keep his fears at ..
Saina said she is pleased to have won her maiden Asian Games medal in her third attempt after quarterfinal finishes in 2010 and 2014.
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"...this time, being unseeded, I could have faced anyone but the draw was favourable. I am happy I could get a medal. But the point is to fight with each and every player," she said. "This tournament is as good as Olympics, just that we do not have Carolina here."
Asked about Sindhu's prospects in the final against Tai, Saina said, "It would be 50-50. Sindhu is taller and has more options to counter, she can play shots I can't."
