Saina's Beijing exploit gives hope to upcoming shuttlers

Saina Nehwal lost in the quarter-final to Indonesian Maria Kristin Yulianti.

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Bangalore: Shuttler Saina Nehwal has gone beyond what most expected from her at Beijing Olympics.

She's already become a source of inspiration for up and coming badminton players in the country.

Aditi Mutatkar, a 20-year-old badminton player from Pune and a product of the Tata Padukone Badminton Centre in Bangalore, is also dreaming big after her inspiration Saina reached the quarter-finals at the Olympics.

"Saina is an inspiration, last season she's been really good and she has had some super results and she is fearless. I think I would like to take that from her, that kind of quality of being fearless against the best in the world. She is an inspiration, but I would look forward to play against her also, i would like to beat her in the nationals if she comes and plays because she is an inspiration for me," Mutatkar says.

Fearless is the key word at the Tata Padukone Academy and the man driving is none other than Prakash Padukone; India's greatest ever badminton player.

Since he retired, his academy has been producing the finest players of the country among them Saina.

So what does he think of Saina's chances?

"Well I think she is playing very well, she is in good form. I think she will do very well. She is playing for the first time. Considering her form I think she will stand a good chance," Padukone hopes.

Abhinav Bindra and Saina have ignited the passion for up and coming players in India and made them believe that they too can be the best in the world.

Padukone adds, "They are not saying it but I am sure they are feeling it. We can see a lot more enthusiasm in the training sessions and I hope it continues. There is a lot of talent and if they work hard I am sure they can do well."

With their role models going great guns at Beijing, winning an Olympic medal is no longer a distant dream for Indian sport persons.

(With inputs from Abhirr VP and Divya Iyer)