By Jilawatan

When it comes to hyperboles, it’s difficult to beat the Indians. However, when Prakash Padukone – India ‘s greatest badminton player – says Saina Nehwal has the game to become world No 1 after a Super Series event triumph in Indonesia, then you can only tend to nod in affirmation.

So phenomenal had been this 19 year old’s progress on the circuit over the last one and half years that she has become the most recognisable face among Indian sportswomen along with Sania Mirza.

If anything, the air of expectations around Saina – who comes from the same south Indian city of Hyderabad as the tennis star – is even stronger.

A look at the giant strides the Haryanvi girl had made ever since she made her mark at the junior level had been nothing short of exemplary.

Last year in Beijing Olympics, she came agonisingly close to giving India their fourth medal when she made the quarters before falling to a Chinese ranked much higher in the world.

It had been only an upward curve ever since – titles on the Tour, the world junior crown, gold at youth Commonwealth Games – the titles have just flowed.

In a sport dominated by China and other South Asian countries where speed and fitness are the buzzwords, the spunky Saina has done remarkably well to come this far and stay in the top 10 for a while.

Now No 7, she is not far from reaching her target of top five – a feat which only the likes of a Vishy Anand or the Paes-Bhupathi combo had been able to achieve among Indians in individual sport.

What makes her so special? In the words of Padukone, it’s not only a complete game but the combination of mental toughness and fitness which has made her such a rarity.

Without mincing words, he had even gone on record to compare her strengths with two of the best women shuttlers the country has seen in the past.

First, there was Madhumita Bisht Рwho held sway in the Eighties Рwhom he felt was fast and fit but mentally not tough enough. Aparna Popat, a prot̩g̩ of Padukone, was tactically quite good but got down to physical fitness much later.

There is, however, the usual word of caution. In a cricket-crazy country like India, Saina has carved her own niche and the media frenzy and other perks have already started following.

The challenge for her is not to get carried away and keep up the good work now!