Saina: Indian badminton's new star

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New Delhi: So near, yet so far. After a fantastic run of form, India's teenage badminton sensation Saina Nehwal cracked up at the final hurdle, losing in straight sets in the World Junior Badminton championship final in Incheon, South Korea.

Saina lost 13-21, 9-21 to China's Wang Yihan. Yet, the prodigious shuttler brings a ray of hope to the nation.

Her talent could remind many of another player who started out young winning national and state level tournaments at the age of 13.

In fact Saina has been the runner-up twice in the national women's single event, losing both times to Aparna Popat in the final.

Even though Saina lost the title her father is very excited about her performance.

"She has proved and shown the world that there is someone from Indian too. Today she is runner's up but actually she has done a wonderful job. To be runner's up to world No 1 and that to to someone from China is a privilege for an Indian in badminton," her father, Harvir Singh Nehwal, says.

Her coach and former All England champion Pullela Gopichand believes that it was time for the Commonwealth bronze medallist to get more professional.

"She has beaten players in the top 20 consistently. She has beaten world No 4, 9, 11, 13 etc. There are almost six-seven players in the top 20 whom she has beaten this year. In big matches like Commonwealth Games and team championships also she has won a few games. So it has been a very good year for her," Gopichand says.

The only way that Saina Nehwal can move now is up provided she gets the right support.