Dubai: Saina Nehwal was back in school...well, college for a few hours at least. Dropping in for a quick visit to grace the BITS Sports Festival at BITS Pilani, the World No. 6 shuttler regaled students to three games of exhibition stuff, as they cheered her every move.
She was scheduled to play just one game, but so caught up was she with the mood of the occasion that she extended her stint on the court.
In a courtside chat to XPRESS, she said: "Their enthusiasm is so infectious. It is really sad that Dubai doesn't have any international tournament, or a badminton federation for that matter. I would love to play here some day.
"But at least BITS Pilani, Dubai have invited me. The one in India still haven't," she said, on what was her first visit to Dubai.
Saina's stay was short, but she still managed to take in a bit of the city. "I always wanted to see the world's tallest building and I managed to do so on my way from the airport," she said.
The 20-year-old, who cracked the top five earlier this year, is just biding her time, as she seeks to be the best player in the world. "All those above me are from China. They play against themselves all the time in order to get better. I am all alone in that respect in India, with no other player in sight. So, I have to keep playing matches against them.
"In fact, I am trying to be like them in the way they practice and the kind of discipline they have," she said.
One of the few Indian sportspersons who have managed to steer attention away from cricket with their exploits, Saina hopes to build on her semi-final showing at the All-England Championships and the ABC Championships.
"Those were very good results for me, even though I put too much pressure on myself playing the ABC Championship at home. Playing abroad is much easier. I am now looking ahead to the Uber Cup finals which is my next tournament along with the World Championships in August, besides the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games later in the year," she said.
Coming from Hyderabad, it was inevitable that the subject of Sania Mirza's marriage would come up to which Saina said: "It was quite a shocking news really. I wish her well, but I really don't know how she will give time to tennis."
