Saina can win World Championship medal: Rashid Sidek

BADMINTON: Former Malaysian badminton star Rashid Sidek feels that India’s very own, Saina Nehwal, has a bright chance of grabbing a medal at the World Championship 2013, which commences from next month, in China. In an interview with ‘IANS’, Sidek quoted, “I think India definitely has a chance of winning a medal at the World Championships. Saina really has a good chance as her game has the quality to win medals.” He further added, that no matter which medal she wins, but she definitely has a golden opportunity here.

“Whether it is a gold, silver or bronze is up to her. About the rest of the players, I am not sure,” the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bronze-medallist added. The 45-year-old, who is currently in India for coaching Indian Badminton League (IBL) franchise Delhi Smashers, was all praise for the young, emerging Indian players. “But not winning at worlds does not mean Indian shuttlers are not good. I follow Indian badminton and I think they are quite good. In men’s singles they are performing well at the international stage.

Your coach Gopichand has done a good job - finding good players, improving them and the result is that Indians are seen in quarterfinals and semifinals of Super Series and winning Grands Prix.” K. Srikanth won the Thailand Open; Parupalli Kashyap, R.M.V. Gurusaidutt, B. Sai Praneeth, H.S. Prannoy all have the quality. P.V. Sindhu is also very good. She recently won the Malaysia Open, and at 18, she is beating top players. “India is not strong in doubles,” he said, “the focus is more on singles. To top in doubles, kids need to train from a young age, say 13-14. Also, most of them want to play singles because of more money and popularity these days.” Rashid won the gold medal at 1990 Commonwealth games in Auckland, followed by the another one at the 1994 Commonwealth games in Victoria.