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Saina Nehwal reached a career-high World No 3 on Thursday, moving up three places while standing up to the collective might of the Chinese, who now occupy all save No 3 of the top seven slots in world rankings.
Nehwal who advanced to the quarters of the Indonesian Open beating Petya Nedelcheva 21-12 21-17 on the day of her highest elevation in the global order yet had aimed for a Top 3 by 2010 end and has achieved it with 6 months to spare.
Speaking about the phenomenal first half of the year her father Dr Harvir Singh said, "Every tournament that she has played, she's either made the semis or played and won the finals."
While a younger Saina often ambitiously day-dreamt of beating the Chinese, her father recalled the Hyderabadi youngster had always kept her ranking targets realistic.
Singh remembered the family as a whole has had to sit her down in anxious times and calm her when she would wonder and ocassionally cry when results faltered.
"There have been days when she'd just come home and ask 'Why am I not winning?'" he said. It was then that Saina's parents pointed out the unnees-bees (19-20) philosophy which has pulled her through the rough days.
"It's a phrase which means there's only that little difference between her and the rest of the winners. We told her she always had the stamina, built and determination and she was lesser to no one. The finishing was still coming together, and now it is showing in all her results," said Dr Singh.
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