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Seven times All-England champion Erland Kops had once remarked that there was no home ground for a champion and India's best hope, Saina Nehwal would do well to bear this in mind ahead of the $120,000 Yonex-Sunrise India Open Grand Prix commencing here Tuesday with qualifying rounds in women's singles.
For all her achievements, including attaining No.6 World ranking, Saina is yet to come good on home courts in a major international event. She had her chances last during the Indian Open and the World championships, but couldn't quite ascend the top step of the podium.
Kops' statement was in the context of a true champion having to perform and win be it at a hostile foreign venue or on a friendly home court. 'For a champion, there is nothing called a home ground. You need to perform against any opposition and in any condition. That is the hallmark of a true champion,' the legendary Dane had said.
Saina's major home success was at the Syed Modi Indian Grand Prix in December last, but faced no opposition and defeated compatriot Aditi Mutatkar, who is seeded third this time, in the final.
Going into the Grand Prix this week, Saina will be again under pressure to deliver in front of a home crowd that would be rooting for the top seed and also her counterpart Chetan Anand who heads the men's singles field.
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 Anthony Clark, England's experienced doubles specialist, has given his partners a boost ahead of the Asian Super Series legs after being included in the squad for next week's action.
Clark, whose All England and European Badminton Championship challenge was cut short by back and leg p… |
 Li Yongbo, China's controversial national badminton coach, is concerned that a new domestic league may hurt the country's success in international competition.
The China Badminton Super League was launched last weekend in an attempt to fulfil a government directive that sport should be… |
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TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Super Series Djarum Indonesia Open, which will be held in Istora Senayan, Jakarta, 22-27 June, will not be attended by Chinese badminton players.
The Committee head of the Indonesia Open Handojo said that they were absent because they will participate in a domestic competition.
“Players from 30 countries will participate in the Indonesia Open. Badminton players from ranks 1-15 will come, except those from China. They are absent because they are following a tournament in their own country,” said Handojo.
The tournament participants will compete to obtain the total prize money of US$ 600.000 (Rp5.55 billion).
The price is higher than the previous prize which amounted to US$ 250.000.
There is a prize increase because the Indonesia Open will be categorized as the Premier Super Series tournament starting next year.
The Head of Indonesia Badminton Association (PBSI) Djoko Santoso said that there are two PBSI targets this year.
“The first target is to succeed in becoming a Premier Super Series next year. The second one is achievements,” he said.
PBSI hopes that Indonesia could become champion in men’s single, men’s double and mixed double.
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Nothing is impossible in sports and the Korean girls proved it by ousting defending champion China 3-1 in the just-concluded Uber Cup final in Kuala Lumpur. Playing as the underdog, South Korea fought its best to foil China’s ambition in taking home the Uber Cup for the 13th time, winning the coveted trophy for the first time.
It was a different fate, unfortunately, for Indonesia’s Thomas Cup team who bowed out to defending champion China. The national team’s ambition to repeat the sweet success at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, dashed after Taufik Hidayat and teammates lost 0-3.
Reaching the final stage, however, was progress for Indonesia’s Thomas Cup team. It had failed in the semifinals three consecutive times.
The last time Indonesia won the Thomas Cup was in 2002 in Guangzhou, China, defeating Malaysia to craft history as the country with the most victories at the event with 13 wins since 1958, including five consecutive wins from 1994.
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