Saina Nehwal successfully defended her crown and added her third Super Series title to her kitty by beating Japan’s Sayaka Sato on Sunday in the Indonesian Open Super Series at Jakarta. Her two earlier wins were the Indian Open Grand Prix Gold event on June 13 in Chennai and the Singapore Open Super Series title on June 20.

Though a bit restrained earlier in the week when she was ranked World No. 3 (she wanted to win the Indonesian Open before celebrating), the Arjuna and Padma Sri recipient seemed at last ready to bask in the glory. “It’s a superb feeling — indeed an achievement to cherish always... becoming World No. 3, defending my Indonesian Open Super Series title, winning the Singapore Open Super Series and Indian Open — it’s reason enough to celebrate,” Saina told this newspaper from Jakarta on Sunday.

“I am eager to come home so that I can share these precious moments with my family too,” the 20-year-old said adding, “It has been three long very tiring weeks for me as I have been playing these tournaments one after another.

However, ending with a victory motivates you to do better.” Did she miss the Chinese? “No comments,” Saina laughed but then added, “That was an advantage for me since the psychology is different when you are against a Chinese player. But again, that does not mean that victory is all yours.

“You have to play your best because you never know what determination and tactics your opponent is going to adopt.” The champion’s parents — Dr Harvir Singh and Usha Rani — were delighted with their daughter’s latest victory.

“Saina has done us proud. With God’s grace, we hope she brings laurels to the country,” Dr Singh said. “I was really tensed when she was down in the second game.
“But she easily overcame the hiccup in the third one,” added Ms Usha.

National chief coach Pullela Gopichand was extremely proud of his ward. “It is a great victory for Saina. Many aspire but only few are able to scale these heights. Saina is hard-working and she really deserves it,” he said adding, “Her focus now will be the World Championships (August), the Commonwealth Games (October) and the Asian Games.

“Now, looking at her achievements, I can say she definitely has it in her to get the gold at the Olympics,” Gopichand said.

SAINA's MARCH TO THE TOP
Born: March 17, 1990 at Hisar in Haryana; currently based in Hyderabad
World ranking: No.3

International/Indian titles:
* Czechoslovakia Junior Open-2003
* Asian Satellite Badminton Tournament-2005
* Philippines Open-2006. First Indian to win a four-star badminton event
* Asian Satellite Badminton Tournament-2006
* Indian National Badminton Championships-2007, 2008
Yonex Chinese Taipei Open-2008
* World Junior Badminton Championships-2008. First Indian to win a world junior title)
* Indonesia Open Super Series-2009. First Indians to win a Super Series event
* India Open Grand Prix-2010
* Singapore Open Super Series-2010
* Indonesia Open-2010

Other international performances:
* Commonwealth Games-2006-Bronze medal in mixed team event
* Beijing Olympics-2008-Quarterfinals. First Indian woman to reach singles quarterfinals in Olympics
* Badminton Asia Championships-2010-Bronze medal

All-England Super Series-2010-Semifinalist