Saina Nehwal is one of the greatest badminton players of all time, winning two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, two bronze medals at the World Championships, and a gold medal at the Asian Games. She is one of the most successful female athletes from India and has become an inspiration for many sports enthusiasts. But what led Saina to take up badminton in the first place?
Her Early Years
Saina Nehwal was born in 1990 in Hisar, Haryana, India. From an early age, she was an active child who enjoyed playing a variety of sports. She was particularly fond of badminton and began playing it at the age of eight. Her father, Harvir Singh, was a scientist at the Directorate of Oilseeds Research in Hyderabad and her mother, Usha Rani, was a former state-level badminton player. It was her parents who encouraged her to pursue badminton and they even enrolled her in a badminton coaching camp run by P. Gopichand, who is now her coach.
The Influence of Gopichand
Gopichand had a huge influence on Saina’s decision to take up badminton. He was a former All-England champion and had won numerous international tournaments. He was also the first Indian to win the All-England Championship in 2001. Gopichand was a dedicated coach and he was determined to help Saina develop her skills and reach the top of the world rankings. He was also the first Indian to be inducted into the Badminton Hall of Fame, which is a testament to his skill and dedication as a coach.
The Rise of Saina
Saina began to make a name for herself in the early 2000s. She won the Junior National Badminton Championships in 2004 and 2006, and in 2006 she was the runner-up at the Senior National Badminton Championships. She also won the Under-19 National Badminton Championships in 2005. In 2006, she made her international debut and won the Philippines Open. She won her first Grand Prix Gold title in 2009 at the India Open Super Series, and the following year she became the first Indian woman to win the BWF World Championships.
The Success of Saina
Since then, Saina has gone on to achieve great success in the sport. In 2010, she won the Commonwealth Games gold medal, becoming the first Indian badminton player to do so. She also won a bronze medal in the World Championships and a gold medal in the Asian Games. She became the first Indian to reach the number one ranking in the BWF World Rankings, a feat she achieved in 2015.
Conclusion
Saina Nehwal has become a household name in India and has made a significant contribution to the development of badminton in the country. She has inspired millions of young people to take up the sport and has become an inspiration for aspiring female athletes. Her success is a testament to her hard work, dedication, and determination, and her story of starting out as a young badminton player is an inspiration to many.