HYDERABAD: Former All England champion Pullela Gopichand was and is dead against endorsing soft drinks or for that matter, have a gulp of any drink. But his disciple and badminton star Saina Nehwal has no such qualms. “It was his decision but it was a good one. Today’s generation... we, somehow, drink all soft drinks. But there is a danger of putting on weight so we have to be careful. I have it once in a month. I don’t have any problem. It is okay for me,” said Saina after the renewal of her endorsement with Herbalife, a global nutrition company, here on Wednesday.Gopichand, at the peak of his career, had refused to endorse soft drinks. He advocated coconut water, lassi or fruit juices. He has stuck to that stand till date as he feels adequate quantity of water is good for health. “All the players of the academy feel proud of that decision. When he says he will not do it, he will not. This was in his mind and he did that. I feel it was a good decision,’’ said Saina.The star, who is back in form ahead of the New Year, said she owed her comeback to her coach Gopichand. “I started the year losing to unheralded players. It was affecting me a lot. Gopi sir asked me to change the mind set. Mentally, I became very weak but physically I was strong. I’m happy I’m back in form and I regained my confidence at the Super Series final in China,’’ she said. Saina said she would be choosy while going for endorsements next year. “It is an Olympic year. I have to focus on my game and therefore, I would not be doing much of endorsements. I want to win a medal for India. That is the top priority next year,’’ said the Hyderabadi girl, who will be on a plane on the eve of the new year, on her way to the Korean Super Series Open tournament in Seoul. This will be the first big tournament of the new year in the run-up to the London Olympics in August.
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