Saina’s family ecstatic at daughter’s feat

NEW DELHI - After Saina Nehwal won the Hong Kong Super Series title Sunday, her mother Usha Nehwal expressed joy at her daughter’s feat and revealed how the star shuttler does “secret excerises” to keep herself supremely fit.

Usha, a former badminton player, said she was confident that Saina would pull it off even though she lost the first game.

“In the first set, she (Saina) usually warms up. So, we were not really worried at that time,” said Usha.

“But when she won the second game, her father and I were sure she would pull it off. She is a very hardworking girl and we are proud of her achievements.”

Besides hardwork and courage, Usha said the reason behind Saina’s success is her knack of finding new ways to keep herself fit.

“She does secret things to stay fit. One day she will do yoga and the next she will do something else. She keeps on changing her exercises,” Usha said in a ligther vein.

Saina’s coach and All England Champion Pullela Gopichand said the 20-year-old’s victory was important in the context of the rankings.

“She missed quite a few Super Series tournaments to prepare for the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. She slipped a few places down the ranking ladder. So, this win was crucial,” said Gopichand