15/08/2013
The question of who's better between Saina and Sindhu should not end at IBL
A lot many friends have asked me if this is the first time Saina Nehwal will take on P V Sindhu in a match. Yes, it is indeed.
That is because apart from very occasional sparring on court at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad, the gurukul that has produced both players, Saina and Sindhu have never crossed swords. Err racquets.
Another reason why the academy has not seen a Saina vs Sindhu battle is because Saina all these years, always practised with male players.
Unlike the Chinese academies, where world champions, Olympic Games medallists, Asian Games medallists rub shoulders with each other, the presence of no women singles player of repute meant Saina was forced to test herself against male players or coach Pullela Gopichand himself.
The bronze medal around Sindhu's neck at the World championship in China has however introduced an element of competition into Indian badminton. Who is better, is a tantalising question that both players will now have to get used to, however unfair it may be.
One game in an Indian Badminton League cannot and should not settle the question either. It would be highly unfair it were to be the case.
Having said that, just like a Sachin Tendulkar vs Shane Warne contest, today Saina vs Sindhu battle will attract eyeballs to badminton. And that will be very good for the game in India.
So far, India had only one world-class icon in women singles and the entry of Sindhu into the public consciousness should inspire many more youngsters to take to the game.
The women singles match between Hyderabad Hotshots and Awadhe Warriors will undoubtedly be the most watched one.
On one hand, will be Saina's aggressive power play, stamina and staying power and on the other hand, will be Sindhu's ability to hit half smashes and advantage of height. The senior player will have to draw on all her experience to put it past Sindhu. The stakes are clearly higher for Saina.
Ever since Sindhu's quarter-final victory in China, the build-up has been happening to today's match. Both players, however, have been playing it down.
Sindhu has paid tribute to Saina, calling her a great player and saying she will just give her 100 per cent. Saina too wants to take it as just another match.
Coach Gopi too is not too pleased with the media converting Indian badminton into a Saina versus Sindhu affair. He instead would prefer it to be "Saina and Sindhu" and points out that between the two of them, they have another 18 years of badminton to play for the country.
"I would much rather prefer that they play against each other in the finals of the Olympics, Asian Games and the World championships. That will be most beneficial for Indian badminton," he says.
Before Saina arrived on the Indian badminton scene, the big women's singles player was Aparna Popat. But Saina did not play in too many national championships for an Aparna vs Saina build-up to take place.
The fact that Saina does not take part in any national competitions now, will mean the public will treat the winner of today's clash as India's national badminton champion.
Significantly, Saina's mother Usha Rani will be watching the much-talked about match today in Delhi. Saina owes a lot of her success to the perseverence displayed by her parents, both amateur badminton players. And Saina will remember that her mother hates to see her lose.
P.S. The day began with the challenger to the Prime Minister's throne asking the nation to compare his speech with that of the PM at Red Fort. The day will end with the country's badminton lovers relishing a fight between the top badminton player and her challenger.
Truly the icing on the cake, on a day when India turns 67 years old.
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