Saina leads Indian shuttlers to Asiad

The Indian badminton team led by ace shuttlers Saina Nehwal and P Kashyap on Monday left for China, eager to defeat some tough challenges and replicate their Common wealth Games success, in the Asian Games to be held in Guangzhou from November 12 to 27.With a CWG gold behind her, Saina will be the cynosure of all eyes at the Asiad. The Indian ace said that it would be hard to repeat her performance in China, but she has set her eyes on the yellow metal.

"Asian Games is much tougher. The competition level in the Asian Games is very high compared to the Commonwealth Games. To add to it, the Chinese will be a great challenge in front of their fans," she said on the sidelines of a felicitation programme on Monday. "But I am quite prepared and will try my best. After CWG, till now I have seen a lot of improvement in my game. I am hopeful of a medal, possibly gold, because nothing is impossible," added the 20-year-old Hyderabadi.

Saina said as less than a month separated the October 3-14 CWG and the Asian Games, she rushed back to training after the Delhi event."The Commonwealth Games and Asian Games were very close to each other, so I did not waste time and went back to training as soon as possible. I took only a day's break after the Commonwealth Games," said Saina, who formally received the Rajiv Khel Ratna Award from Sports Minister M S Gill on Monday.