World No 3 Saina Nehwal from India credits watching Bollywood films featuring Shah Rukh Khan as being a key factor in her smooth passage to the All-England Open final.
Nehwal - the first Indian to win an Olmpic medal at Badminton – beat China’s Sun Yu, 21-13, 21-13, to reach her first All-England final in seven appearances.
"It is a big event and everyone dreams of winning," Nehwal said. "It's a big hurdle because many people think I should get to the final anyway - and that I should win every tournament I play.
"I like that, but it's not easy. So I just watched Shah Rukh Khan films and tried to play my best.”
Yu, 21, was a surprise qualifier for the semi-finals after defeating former world champion Ratchanok lntanon and Olympic champion Li Xuerui in her previous two matches.
"Playing the semi-final at the All-England is an honour, and next time I shall try to do better," she said. "Saina has improved a lot in the last couple of months, but this has given me confidence that I can improve."
Nehwal is also the only player from her country to have won a Super Series title and the 24-year-old insists she won’t be changing her approach to tomorrow’s All-England final.
"I shall try to think of it tomorrow as just another Super Series event,” she said. “If I start thinking that this is an All-England final I am going to play, it's pressure."
Spain’s Carolina Marin stands between Nehwal and the title after the world number six beat Taiwan’s Tai Tzu Ying 21-18, 21-11, in the other semi-final.
Watch the All-England Open final from 12pm on Sunday March 8, live on SportNews 3.
