Hyderabad:
But for a few minute changes, the daily schedule of Saina Nehwal has hardly changed over the last decade. If anything, there is only a change in the mode of her travel. While she used to commute on her father’s scooter, she now arrives at the Pullela Gopichand Academy in a new BMW X6.
For six days in a week, Saina’s schedule remains the same. She wakes up at 6 am and after having a glass of milk she spends one hour in yoga nidra. During this period she assesses her previous day’s practice and motivates herself for the session ahead.
She arrives at the academy at about 7.30 am and after the scheduled meeting with other trainees she starts on-court practice. The first session usually comprises stroke-hitting and the various aspects of the game prescribed by coach Gopichand.
The session ends at 11 am and after a small fruitbreak, her training starts again at 11.30 am. In this session, she usually practises with her sparring partners. Coach and former All-England champion Gopichand is one of them along with India’s top singles player Parupalli Kashyap and other male international shuttlers. They even play matches and on most occasions, Gopi, who is 39 now, gives a tough time to Saina.
After lunch and a nap, the third session begins at 4.00 or 4.30 pm as per the schedule fixed by coach and physio Kiran. The lunch includes rice, chicken (she was a vegetarian earlier), vegetable curries and lowcarb-high-protein diet. The evening session in a week comprises 2-4 sessions of strength training, 3-5 sessions of endurance and about six sessions of agility, moderate running etc.
She does weight training but guards herself against acquiring an unfeminine figure. She does speed runs for about half an-hour and relaxes herself at the swimming pool.
She is back home around 7.30 pm. Though her coach has advised her against any physical exercise she sometimes hits the treadmill. She finishes her dinner by 8.30 pm which mostly includes boiled chicken and vegetables. She turns on the TV and goes to sleep watching some movie.
Saina hardly attends any functions or parties. Once in a while and mostly when she is abroad, she goes for a movie and after winning every tournament she indulges in an ice cream.
source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> Sports> More Sports / by M. Ratnakar, TNN / November 11th, 2012