After Bindra, its Saina Nehwal

Just read this story about Saina Nehwal's final match at the Beijing Olympics. Some reporter actually asked her whether she got complacent!!! What kind of question is that? Consider Nehwal's interesting and illuminating comment about not being able to judge the drift - something which tells you a bit about the sport, that question is just plainly crass and disrespectful. Nobody expects journalists to be polite, and to not ask difficult and pointed questions. But they ought not to make fools of themselves.

On the drift question, i watched Nehwal's first game, and remember noticing her judgement of the line. Shuttles which were less than an inch out were judged by her to perfection - everything she let go, was Out. It must be quite a complex task to judge drift in large arenas with high cielings and air-conditioning, especially when the drift is bound to vary on different courts within the arena, maybe even on different sides of the same court. Experienced players probably deal with this better than others.

Yet, the best we can do is ask her if she was complacement. Its a wonder she didn't whack that journalist really hard with whatever was at hand. But she's too polite and too sincere to take offense, even to the most offensive offering from the press.

I mean really... was she complacent!!!!