30 years ago, on 17 March 1990, a girl was born to Usha Rani and Harvir Singh Nehwal in the state of Haryana when her grandmother refused to see her for a month.
Discrimination against a girl child was rife in Haryana. Who knee, that this girl, named Saina Nehwal will become a pioneer of India, flying the national flag high before anyone.
Never did someone know that this girl, first and only Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal, first to win Commonwealth Gold in women’s singles, first to win the World Junior and Commonwealth Youth titles, and was also the first Indian to win the Indian Super series title.
Saina Nehwal is an Indian badminton player and India’s first shuttler to win a medal at the Olympics. She has been a world no. 1, and the only Indian woman to reach the landmark. Saina has over 23 international titles to her name. Off the 23, 10 are Superseries titles. Saina is an eminent athlete who has given immense contribution in making the sport of Badminton popular in the country.
Nehwal’s achievements, her focus on winning for India and her simplicity has endeared her to millions of sports fans, not only in India but abroad as well.
Badminton was in Nehwal’s genes – her mother was a badminton player as well, representing Haryana.
Born and brought up in a very normal family, his family never let finance become a hurdle in the path of her badminton training and did everything so that she could continue her practice. His father even borrowed money from his family members, friends, relatives to let her practice go uninterrupted.
Her consistency, dedication and determination has brought laurels not only to her family, but to the entire country.
She has now become a face of India in badminton and has been awarded with Padma Bhushan,
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Padma Shri,
Arjuna Award,
Most Promising Player of the Year- BWF
