December 12 — After the stupendous win in Hong Kong Super Series, Saina Nehwal further motivates herself to succeed in the 2012 London Olympics. She says to keep herself at the top of her fitness for it.

She said, “The next year will be very tough. The first step is doing well in the Olympic qualifiers and then maintaining the fitness to excel in the Olympics.”

Indian batminton ace defeated Chinese Shixian Wang in the Hong Kong Super Series. She said after winning, “It is like a dream come true… I am very happy that I am finishing the year like this. It is like a dream come true.” She added further that it was important for her to win the series because she failed to make a mark in the recently held Asian Games in China.

She defeated the Chinese Champion in 15-21, 21-16, 21-17. This was her fourth Super Series title and third of 2010.

After losing the first game, Saina, 20, said she became more confident saying, “because I was moving well on the court… I knew she would hit some strokes… The third was set was very crucial… “I was very, very confident throughout. I was always confident after the second game.”

A former badminton player Usha said that Saina usually warms up in the first set.

Pullela Gopichand, coach of Saina and All England Champion, said that the victory of Saina in the Hong Kong Super Series was important in context of the rankings.

Gopichand said, “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.”