She’s been on the road since August now, and the sheer hectic nature of the event could make her task difficult. “I don’t want to remember the previous tournaments as just thinking will make me mentally tired. This is a new event, and I’m ready,” she maintains.

Nehwal’s journey into the top flight started with the World Juniors at Incheon two years ago (that was also her last junior tourney), when she unexpectedly stormed into the final before losing to Chinese Wang Yihan. “It might be a junior event, while I’ve moved onto seniors. But I’d lost that final in the individual category, remember,” she stresses.

The Chinese, as secretive as ever about which bunch they have brought, remain formidable opponents. Saina Nehwal, though, will be the name to beat for any junior from any part of the world at this competition.