Saina gears up for World Championships

Saina Nehwal has been on a hot streak of late with three consecutive super series titles. But over the next week, she has the chance to scale an even higher summit, win the world championships that start in Paris later on Tuesday.

The Hyderabadi hurricane has unfinished business at the World Championships. Laid low by chicken pox just before last year's World Championship in Hyderabad, Saina Nehwal battled hard but fell in the quarter finals.

But a lot has happened in the last 12 months. Saina is now in top gear and is seeded second in Paris. She starts off against Hsiao Huan Chen against whom she has a 2-0 head to head record.

A hattrick of titles a few months back have rocketed Saina to 2nd in the world rankings, but with that comes added expectations.

Saina's USP has been her ability to thrive under pressure but this time the odds are stacked against her. The Chinese are lurking and Saina will have to go past 3 of them before she can lay her hands on the trophy.

Also within striking dstance is that coveted world number one ranking. There's a lot to play for in Paris and her journey begins on Tuesday.

Source http://ibnlive.in.com/news/saina-gears-up-for-world-championships/129496-5-23.html