New Delhi: India’s ace women badminton player Saina Nehwal is very skillful and has the potential to win a medal at this year’s London Olympics provided she continues to work hard, feels World number one male shuttler Lee Chong Wei. “The ultimate goal of playing in a competition is winning, it is a desire of bravely pursuing the victory. Whoever is well prepared, the chance to win is ready. She’s (Saina) young and has a strong skill, she has every potential to win if she continues her good work,” Lee said.
The two-time All England champion, Lee has been leading the world ranking for quite sometime and the Malaysian credited his hard work for his dominance in the men’s arena.
“In order to be the world no.1, I had to wake up every day at 5 am to train. Running, game techniques and footwork practices, physical training etc. It is a result that I have gained by working hard every day,” he said.
The 29-year-old will be in the capital for the Yonex Sunrise India Open Super Series — the last qualifying tournament for the London Olympics — and the defending champion said he was looking forward to the event.
“Each competition is equally significant to me. It is upto the player to examine himself and his skills. Therefore, I play with my utmost. I have full confidence on myself. I strive to keep up a good condition, to every player, moving forward is to win. It is the final goal,” he said.
Inpite of his dominance in the men’s circuit for quite sometime now, a World title and gold medal at the Olympics has still eluded Lee.
The 2008 Beijing silver medallist said the path to an Olympic gold is not easy and he is training “zealously” to achieve that glory.
“To me, or to an athlete, Olympic is an extraordinary important tournament, but competition is always cruel, only one winner can be at the pinnacle, but even the greatest hero can be defeated, nobody can stand on it forever,” he said. (PTI)