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Saina a step away from maiden CWG gold
Indian hope Saina Nehwal will step into the court on Thursday to realise her dream of becoming nation's first woman shuttler to win a Commonwealth Games gold with Malaysian Mew Choo Wong standing in her way of the coveted title.
Indian hope Saina Nehwal will step into the court on Thursday to realise her dream of becoming nation's first woman shuttler to win a Commonwealth Games gold with Malaysian Mew Choo Wong standing in her way of the coveted title.
Top seed Saina have been in red-hot form this year, winning three titles -- India Open, Singapore Superseries and Indonesian Superseries -- to rise to the world number three and so far in the Games, she has remained invincible.
The 20-year-old has an enviable record of beating Wong four times this year but Saina will be fully aware that past record will not matter tomorrow.
In fact, it was Wong who had stretched Saina into three games in their last encounter in the team event.
"She is a very good player. In the final it will be a difficult match, it would be a 50-50 chance," Saina had said after making the final, beating Susan Egelstaff.
Taking her past match into consideration, Wong will be hoping to better her silver medal finish in Melbourne 2006.
Winner of the 2009 Superseries Masters is known for her exceptional endurance and stamina and has a very good defence.
Both Saina and Wong have the ability to run a continuous long rally and so it would be a battle of attrition tomorrow.
"I do not have pressure on me now, so I'm just going to enjoy the final," is what Wong had to say about the final.
"All the athletes are aiming for the Summer Olympics 2012. My target for this year has been gold medals in the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games," she said.
Saina had beaten Wong at the Asian Championship in April, Indian Open final in June, Singapore Superseries in first round in June and at the team event of the Commonwealth Games.
