India’s teenaged badminton sensation Saina Nehwal is aiming to break into the world’s top 15 besides putting up a good show in the Beijing Olympics next year.

Saina, now ranked 27 in the world, feels that she needs to work on her speed and endurance to topple the best in the game. Seventeen-year-old Saina knows that the going would be tough when she makes her maiden appearance at the Olympic Games.

“This is my first tryst with the Olympic Games and I am not exactly expecting a medal. However, if I come up with a good performance, I will consider it as a success,” the Hyderabad-born player told PTI. She was here to take part in a badminton clinic organised by the Badminton Players Association of West Bengal (BPAWB).

Asked about her target next year, Saina said: “I hope to be among the top 15.”

With a career highest ranking of 21, Saina was upbeat about bridging the gap with the crème de la crème of women’s badminton.

“I have been constantly playing against the top players. I am now going even with the top players till the last five points. I don’t think skill-wise there is much of a difference between them and me. I actually lag in speed and endurance. And I have to work on these two area.”

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