What after the Olympics?
There’s so much to be done. I have three big tournaments coming up— the Japan Open, the China Open and the Chinese-Taipei Open. I am world no. 14 now and really want to do well in these events and in every other game that follows. Four years later, at the London 2012 Olympics, people should actually believe that I can win a medal. And I want to win a gold.

What do you have to say about the status of badminton in India?
Well, public interest in the sport has increased. After my Beijing stint, people want to know about my game and me. But it has to go way beyond that. Badminton is a costly affair and the government needs to do much more. It must not only support me—thankfully, I have Mittal Sports Trust as my sponsor—but other players too. The media, too, should not forget us after the Olympics.

The sports minister, MS Gill, did not recognise your coach Pullela Gopichand when the two of you met him after your return from Beijing. Comment.
Since Gopichand has not commented on it, who am I to? All I can say is that every badminton lover is disappointed. Gopichand is, after all, a legend. But I am glad that he didn’t mind it.

There have been comparisons with Sania Mirza. You have similar names and belong to Hyderabad.
I feel really bad when my name is confused with Sania’s. Sania plays tennis and I play badminton. Both are very different games. I was okay with the comparison in the beginning. Perhaps it also helped generate people’s interest in me. But now I have a standing and everyone knows Saina is Saina, not Sania. Otherwise, Sania Mirza is a very sweet person. She is very supportive of me and attends every match I play in Hyderabad. She attended the matches I played at the Indian Open. She wanted to see me play in Beijing too, she couldn’t get the tickets.

... contd.