If we talk about the most iconic athletes of India, Saina Nehwal will surely be on the list. She is the first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal, Commonwealth Gold in women’s singles, to win the World Junior and Commonwealth Youth titles, and was also the first Indian to win the Indian Superseries title.
Saina Nehwal's performance on the court and simplicity in real life brought her many fans in India and abroad. Saina Nehwal was born in the state of Haryana, where girls in the families are unappreciated. She also faced that hurdle at an early age. Due to her mother being a badminton player, she received exposure to the game. Then his father was transferred to Hyderabad, a city known as a hub for badminton players in India. Badminton training is expensive, so naturally, her family ran into financial trouble many times in her life. But her parent never let those issues bother her training. And now due to her hard work and dedication, not only she won the Olympics medal but also resolved all her financial troubles too. At one time, she became the highest-paid badminton player in the world by the sponsors.
Her success has taken the sport to great heights in India with thousands following her onto the court, especially young girls.
Unfortunately, Battling injuries and indifferent form, Saina, couldn’t make her fourth Olympics after the sport’s governing body, BWF, canceled the last three qualifiers due to the pandemic.
But she is and will remain an encouragement that has gone on to win not only trophies and medals but also millions of hearts.