London Diary: An Indian wins an Olympic medal

When the win came, it happened so suddenly that no one expected it.

With Wang Xin in control of the first game, all of us were prepared for another disappointing day. There seems to be no end to Chinese domination… they have already won three gold medals, and there are two more finals yet to go. They have won every close match. In other words, the rest of the world has been cheering mostly losers.

It’s a harsh thing to say, but it’s true. At this very venue last year, China swept all five gold medals at the World Championships. The problem is not that there is no one to challenge them – the problem is that those challengers don’t seem able to pull it off when it matters. At the World Championships, current world No.2 Lee Chong Wei had two match points to win the biggest title of his life. If he had taken either of those two points, the debate on his greatness would have been settled for ever.

And yet, Lin Dan had other plans. He won his fourth World Championship crown. It almost seems unfair.

It has been the same story at these Olympics. In the mixed doubles semifinals, both Denmark and Indonesia took the first game from Chinese opponents. Yet they went on to lose.

There was thus a sense of déjà vu when Saina lost the first game. Wang Xin was hitting unbelievable winners from back of the court. Like many lefties, she possesses some unique shots, and Saina was struggling to read them.

It was only at the very end of the first game, after Saina had saved four game points, that one got a hint that something was wrong with the Chinese. She had hobbled after playing a shot at the baseline, and taken medical time out for a strapping on her knee. Some thought she was trying to regain her composure after losing four straight game points. And when Saina served high and she smashed a winner, it looked like a bronze would be a distant dream.

But the second game immediately gave us hope. Wang Xin hobbled around, and after a brief discussion with her coaches, decided to call it quits. Saina had won. She had the bronze.

It will take time to sink in, to realize what this means for Indian badminton. This is Indian badminton’s first Olympic medal. It is perhaps its biggest moment on the world stage.