Asian Games| It's crazy how it feels as if you're playing against so many of them, says Saina Nehwal

Nehwal got past Indonesian teenager Fitriani 21-6, 21-14 in just 31 minutes to sail into the women's singles quarter-finals after her second-round win at the Asian Games on Saturday. The 19-year-old Fitriani tried to come back in the second game by forcing Nehwal into errors, but the Indian veteran kept her calm. The 28-year-old Nehwal, who won her second Commonwealth gold in April, said playing against the backdrop of an intimidating crowd is always tricky.

“When you keep losing points then crowd support really helps. In the second game she started well and went up to 8-4 but I am happy I could come back. Sometimes when there are long rallies and conditions are difficult you might have some shots that you hit into the net or miss out on. You have to control your game, be calm and relaxed,” she said. 

“Playing (in these big tournaments) is not easy because there's a lot of expectation, especially from yourself. Whoever comes out with that pressure is champion.Every big tournament like the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Olympics is tough because it's not about whom you are playing, but the battle with yourself is the toughest. It (only) comes (every) four years so it's not easy to take that away from your mind. You try and be relaxed and calm but somewhere deep inside that plays a role,” Saina concluded.