Why Rio 2016 is a big moment for Saina Nehwal

Saina Nehwal is a movie buff. Among the films she watched, taking time off her hectic practice schedule in Bengaluru, was Salman Khan's Sultan. She had to because after all, it was a movie on the life of a sportsperson, a wrestler from Haryana, the state Saina hails from.

As Saina gets ready for the big battle at Rio, she would realise that this is the big moment in her life. The opportunity to convert her London bronze for a gold or a silver in Samba land.

For the past many weeks, after her Australian Open triumph, Saina has maintained a punishing schedule. One that includes training with sparring partners in three sessions of five hours in all, broken into two, two and one hour session. This is followed by a full stretching session with the physiotherapist. The only time she is not thinking badminton is when she watches a bit of TV and sleeps.

A 40-second video of Saina training with four male players was released by the Badminton Association of India to demonstrate the manner of preparation. It is not that she did not practise with male players before. I remember her watching her do so at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad doing so, for the simple reason that there was no female player who could be a good sparring partner for Saina.

But let us get back to the video. It gives you a sense of how no inch is spared to perfect just every bit of the game. Four strong players pushing the shuttle back at Saina to test her reflexes, her speed and thereby fitness. The different angles at which each player pushes the bird back at her have meant her wrist is on test every second. Through the course of getting battle ready for Rio, her focus has been to get her half smashes and net play perfect.

Even though Saina became number one in the world in 2015, she did not win a single title in the last year. The early part of this year was spent away from tournaments due to injury. But winning Down Under helped Saina's self-confidence apart from sending a message to competition that the Hyderabadi girl is back in form. What was particularly significant was that she beat top quality players en route to the title.

Saina's self-belief is her strongest asset. She rubbishes talk of pressure, saying that if she is 100 per cent fit, she can defeat anyone that day. She is not the kind to get distracted by the surround sound - of the spectators or her rival on court trying intimidatory tactics or grunting. Saina looks at it as match pressure and soaks in that atmosphere.

On more than one occasion, Saina has admitted that more than natural talent, it is her grit and determination that carries the day for her. The never-say-die spirit was in evidence in Australia, prompting even Virat Kohli to admire her aggression on court. This coming from a player whose middle name is aggression!

Rio 2016 will be different from previous Olympics. Because China is no longer the badminton powerhouse it once was. While the Chinese will be hard to put across, players like Carolina Marin of Spain, Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand and Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan ensure there is enough non-Chinese competition playing for top honours as well.

Rio will be a test for coach Vimal Kumar as well. Training with Gopichand won her the bronze while Vimal helped her become world number one. Can the Vimal-Saina jugalbandi now conquer Rio?