The world cheered for Saina Nehwal in 2015 when she became the first Indian female player to be ranked as number one as a badminton player. Her journey till now is an inspiration for every girl who has ever been told that girls cannot do certain things or walk shoulder-to-shoulder with men.
Born in 1990 in Hisar, Saina Nehwal is the daughter of Usha Rani and Harvir Singh Nehwal. When her father was promoted and transferred to Hyderabad, she took up badminton to fulfil the dream of her mother to become a national-level player. Usha Rani had been a state-level player.
Saina’s father broke his provident fund to ensure that her training continues in one of the best courts in the city.
Gender Bias At Home
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In 2010, Saina confessed that her grandmother did not come to see her until a month after she was born. She wanted a boy and was utterly disappointed at her and her sister’s birth.
She was seven when she came to know about the preferences of her grandmother. It shook her to her core and made her realise what gender discrimination was.
Despite facing gender bias at home, Saina has blazed a trail for several girls in India as well as the world. There is hardly anyone in the field of sports, especially badminton, who does not know her name. She is a legend.
In an interview, Nehwal said women are equal to men in all aspects of life. She also emphasised the need to eliminate poverty, spreading awareness about women empowerment and promoting education in the country. She also spoke about the atrocities that women face in the country and said that they should try to remain positive and pursue happiness in the best way they can.
Career Highlights
National Champion In 2006
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In 2005, Nehwal won an Asian Satellite tournament in New Delhi 2005. She became the under-19 national champion in 2006. The same year in May, she became the youngest and first female badminton player to win the Philippines Open, a four-star tournament. In 2007, she represented India at several games.
World Junior Championships Winner In 2008
In 2008, she added another feather to her cap by being the first-ever Indian to win the World Junior Championships. In September, Nehwal won the Chinese Taipei Open, and later that year, she won the Commonwealth Youth Games. She was named ‘The Most Promising Player’ by the Badminton World Federation.
Won BWF Super Series Title In 2009
In 2009, Saina Nehwal became the first Indian to win the BWF Super Series title. By the end of the year, she was also holding the trophy for the India Grand Prix.
Won Indian Grand Prix Gold In 2010
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Beating Wong Mew Choo of Malaysia, Nehwal won the India Open Grand Prix Gold. By June, she was among the top three in the women’s singles. Later, she also won the Indonesia Open title.
Won Swiss Open Title In 2011
In 2011, Nehwal won the Swiss Open title and went on to represent the country in many other matches that followed in the upcoming months.
Won Third Consecutive Indonesia Open In 2012
In 2012, Nehwal lifted the trophies for the Swiss Open title, the Thailand Open title, Indonesia open third time in a row and the Denmark Open title.
Won Australian Open Title In 2014
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In January, Nehwal defeated P. V. Sindhu to win the Indian Grand Prix Gold. In June, she made the country proud by winning the Australian Open. Later, she also lifted the trophy for the China Open title.
Won Syed Modi International In 2015
In 2015, Saina Nehwal lifted the trophy for Syed Modi International and became the first Indian player to make it to the finals of the All-England Open. In the upcoming month, the sportswoman won her maiden women’s singles title at the India Open and secured her ranking at first place among players listed in the BWF World Ranking.
Won Malaysia Masters In 2017
In 2017, Nehwal won the Malaysia Masters title and defeated P. V. Sindhu to lift the trophy for the 82nd National Badminton Championship.
Won Second Gold In Commonwealth Games In 2018
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In 2018, Nehwal secured her second gold medal in the commonwealth games. She also made history by becoming the first Indian to win the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games in 36 years. It was the year when the sportswoman remained undefeated in the Olympics, the Asian Games, the World Championships, the Denmark Open, the Asian Championship and the Commonwealth Games.
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Won BWF Super 500 Title In 2019
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In 2019, Saina Nehwal won her first BWF Super 500 title.
Shehas also received the Arjuna Award for Badminton (2009), CNN-IBN Indian of the Year in Sports (2009), Padma Shri (2010), Big Star Most Entertaining Sportsperson of the Year (2015) and Padma Bhushan (2016). The journey till here was not about winning gold only. She participated in several tournaments and won silver and bronze medals. The sportswoman has played games with renowned personalities in the field of badminton and sailed through tournaments with grievou injuries without giving up.
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Saina Nehwal has fought against all odds to emerge as a winner and a trailblazer. Her inspirational journey has also been captured in a Hindi film titled ‘Saina’. It starred actorParineeti Chopraand charted highs and lows of the sportswoman’s life.