Relief. That is the collective feeling India has over Saina Nehwal winning Down Under, with the Australian Open Super Series title in her kitty. It has been a while since the badminton world saw a medal of golden hue around the champion shuttler's neck. And since Rio is just weeks away, it was a matter of concern that Saina was ending up at the losing end against top Chinese players like Li Xuerui and Wang Yihan and Spain's Carolina Marin all through 2016.
Which is why her latest victory in Sydney is special. Not just because Saina has won for a second time the tournament where she was champion in 2014. By defeating World number 3 Wang Yihan in the semi-final, against whom Saina has a none-too-impressive 6-11 win-loss record, the Indian has sent out a strong message - that in the Saina vs China face-off, the Chinese are yet to sort out her game.
Winning against Yihan would have also done a world of good to Saina's self-confidence because it was Yihan who stopped the Indian's march at the 2012 London Olympics, defeating her in the semis. Saina subsequently settled for the bronze.
On that day in London, Saina was to say later that her ``legs simply refused to move'' and that Yihan proved ``too fast'' for the Hyderabadi shuttler. The Sydney semifinal was a complete contrast, especially the manner in which Saina demolished the unusually sluggish Yihan. The scoreline of 21-8, 21-12 reflected the extent of Saina's domination and control in the match, which lasted just a little over half an hour.
The head-to-head record against Sun Yu, who she met in the final, suggested the Chinese would be easy meat. Saina had defeated her twice in previous editions of the Australian Open and had a 5-1 win-loss record before Sydney. But then just like Saina, Sun Yu had come into the finals defeating world number 2 Li Xuerui. Confidence was not in short supply on either side of the court at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre on Sunday.
Sun displayed a far superior net game to take the first game before Saina attempted to break the Chinese player's rhythm by indulging her in rallies. The second game went Saina's way but the decider saw both players fighting for every single point, elevating their game to befit the final of a tournament. The 21-19 score in the third game said it all.
It is important to see this triumph in perspective. The positive for Saina and India is that it will reinforce confidence in coach Vimal Kumar. That he is on the right track. Remember, it is as much a test for Vimal as it is for Saina. Four years ago, her partnership with coach Pullela Gopichand won India her first medal - a bronze - in badminton at the Olympics. The pressure will be on Saina-Vimal to improve upon the metal of the medal in Brazil. Anything less will raise questions on who was better for Saina - Gopi or Vimal.
But this is still the moment to savour Sydney. The title will give Saina the confidence that on her day, she can push the Chinese top guns back. Also the manner in which she moved around the court throughout this championship, and especially against Yihan, means her injury concerns are a thing of the past. A fully fit Saina on the rampage can own the shuttle, given how mentally tough she is.
Just like in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics campaign, Saina has not seen much success in 2016. Sports experts often say defeats help in taking out the arrogance that tends to inadvertently creep into a player's psyche if he or she is winning continuously. That manifests itself in the player's temperament, body language and attitude towards others. Saina became world number 1 in 2015, a number that gave her a huge psychological boost. However, the biggest titles in world badminton - the World championship and the All-England - have eluded Saina's trophy cabinet.
The positives of this title apart, Saina knows that Rio will be a different ball game. This is the build-up time to the Olympics and every player aims to peak at just the right time. It is more than likely that if Saina meets Yihan in Rio, she will be a very different player. In the Chinese school of badminton, the players are trained to believe that the game and the Olympic podium is theirs to conquer. And any other victor - be it Saina, Marin or current world number 1 Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand - will be seen as an unwelcome intruder.
They won't blame it on Rio.
