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Saina returns: 'Don't want to win like this next time'
Clean Media Correspondent
New Delhi, August 07 (CMC) Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal today returned to a rousing reception after winning a historic bronze medal at the Olympic Games in London.
Saina was flanked by her father Harvir Singh, coach Pullela Gopichand and several secuity personnel as she arrived in the national capital early this morning on a British Airways flight.
The 20-year-old showed no signs of a jet lag as she smiled and greeted several cheering fans, who jostled to catch a glimpse of her at the Indira Gandhi International Airport from where she took a connecting flight to her base Hyderabad.
Speaking to news persons Saina Nehwal and her coach Gopichande thanked everybody for their tremendous support.
Nehwal said-" When I was standing on the podium I remembered all the hard work to get here, and I started crying."
The little champion thanked her parents and her coach for providing her constant support, she said, "I am an Olympic champion..it is unbelievable. Want to thank my parents and Gopi sir for their support."
It was an emotional moment for Saina she said that she had promised her dad that she would not return empty handed.
Commenting on the hard work she had put in, Saina exclaimed, "I was very confident I would win this medal, because I was working very hard. Didn't tell media because I wanted to avoid pressure."
She thanked the Gopichand academy for their tremendous support and help.
The Gopichand badminton Academy at Gachibowli, Hyderabad was Gopichand's answer to these challenges. Spread over a sprawling five-acre site, the Academy measures 42 ft in height and 270 ft. in length accommodating eight courts with international grade wooden flooring.
The overjoyed girl did not wanted to miss out anyone she said that she liked the dress that was designed for her.
"After I lost to Wang Yihan, I cried hours, but then I forgot about it because I wanted to win the bronze," she said.
"Happy that Gagan Narang and I won medals for India and Andhra," she said.
Commenting on her future plans she said, "Now it's time to train harder and win more medals for the country."
"There's a good chance that the badminton team will be stronger in the next Olympics."
She concluded saying that, "I am proud of myself, whatever I said, I did it."
Hailing her win, her coach Pulela Gopichand was all praise for the young girl. He said, " Saina has also sacrificed so much. She did not do any media appearances, or endorsements."
Attributing the success of the medal to the hard work Gopi said, " This medal is a result of God's grace..the hard work we've put in."
Saina's father was also present at the news conference, he too hailed the efforts of the coach and said, "The medal is Saina's, but all achievements come because of the guru... and the guru is Gopichand."
Saina who bagged the bronze medal in London under fortuitous circumstances when her opponent -- world no. 2 Xin Wang -- was leading by a game and 1-0 before withdrawing from the bronze medal contest.
Wang twisted her knee late in the opening game when attempting an acrobatic smash from the rear court.
The Chinese shuttler was unable to continue the contest and the bronze went to Saina who became only the second Indian woman after weightlifter Karnam Malleswari (bronze in 2000 Sydney) to clinch an Olympic medal.
It was also the country's 10th individual medal since its first - a bronze - in 1952 by wrestler Kashaba Jadhav and its third in the ongoing Olympics after rifle shooter Gagan Narang's bronze on July 30 and pistol marksman Vijay Kumar's silver yesterday.
The other badminton players who also landed with Saina were men's singles quarterfinalist P Kashyap and women's doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Jwala Gutta.
Another coach Edwin Iriawan was also a part of the badminton contingent which returned.
Saina returns: 'Don't want to win like this next time'
Clean Media Correspondent
New Delhi, August 07 (CMC) Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal today returned to a rousing reception after winning a historic bronze medal at the Olympic Games in London.
Saina was flanked by her father Harvir Singh, coach Pullela Gopichand and several secuity personnel as she arrived in the national capital early this morning on a British Airways flight.
The 20-year-old showed no signs of a jet lag as she smiled and greeted several cheering fans, who jostled to catch a glimpse of her at the Indira Gandhi International Airport from where she took a connecting flight to her base Hyderabad.
Speaking to news persons Saina Nehwal and her coach Gopichande thanked everybody for their tremendous support.
Nehwal said-" When I was standing on the podium I remembered all the hard work to get here, and I started crying."
The little champion thanked her parents and her coach for providing her constant support, she said, "I am an Olympic champion..it is unbelievable. Want to thank my parents and Gopi sir for their support."
It was an emotional moment for Saina she said that she had promised her dad that she would not return empty handed.
Commenting on the hard work she had put in, Saina exclaimed, "I was very confident I would win this medal, because I was working very hard. Didn't tell media because I wanted to avoid pressure."
She thanked the Gopichand academy for their tremendous support and help.
The Gopichand badminton Academy at Gachibowli, Hyderabad was Gopichand's answer to these challenges. Spread over a sprawling five-acre site, the Academy measures 42 ft in height and 270 ft. in length accommodating eight courts with international grade wooden flooring.
The overjoyed girl did not wanted to miss out anyone she said that she liked the dress that was designed for her.
"After I lost to Wang Yihan, I cried hours, but then I forgot about it because I wanted to win the bronze," she said.
"Happy that Gagan Narang and I won medals for India and Andhra," she said.
Commenting on her future plans she said, "Now it's time to train harder and win more medals for the country."
"There's a good chance that the badminton team will be stronger in the next Olympics."
She concluded saying that, "I am proud of myself, whatever I said, I did it."
Hailing her win, her coach Pulela Gopichand was all praise for the young girl. He said, " Saina has also sacrificed so much. She did not do any media appearances, or endorsements."
Attributing the success of the medal to the hard work Gopi said, " This medal is a result of God's grace..the hard work we've put in."
Saina's father was also present at the news conference, he too hailed the efforts of the coach and said, "The medal is Saina's, but all achievements come because of the guru... and the guru is Gopichand."
Saina who bagged the bronze medal in London under fortuitous circumstances when her opponent -- world no. 2 Xin Wang -- was leading by a game and 1-0 before withdrawing from the bronze medal contest.
Wang twisted her knee late in the opening game when attempting an acrobatic smash from the rear court.
The Chinese shuttler was unable to continue the contest and the bronze went to Saina who became only the second Indian woman after weightlifter Karnam Malleswari (bronze in 2000 Sydney) to clinch an Olympic medal.
It was also the country's 10th individual medal since its first - a bronze - in 1952 by wrestler Kashaba Jadhav and its third in the ongoing Olympics after rifle shooter Gagan Narang's bronze on July 30 and pistol marksman Vijay Kumar's silver yesterday.
The other badminton players who also landed with Saina were men's singles quarterfinalist P Kashyap and women's doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Jwala Gutta.
Another coach Edwin Iriawan was also a part of the badminton contingent which returned.
We should be proud of Saina, the girl prodigy!
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