Badminton has never appeared to be as promising in India for our present and upcoming generations of shuttlers. Prakash Padukone and Pullela Gopichand, two Indian players, had long served as the nation’s sports representatives.
But times have changed, facilities have improved, and fan support is high. And to date, our country has given us many young talents who have raised our national flag higher than any other.
Therefore, today in this article, we will talk about the first badminton player who won a medal at the Olympics and made us proud, creating a historic moment for our country.
So let’s begin:
Saina Nehwal: First Indian badminton player to win medal in Olympics
Sania Nehwal is one of the best Indian professionals and most successful players. Also, she is the first-ever badminton player to clinch an Olympic medal.
She created history by winning Olympic bronze in her second appearance at the London Olympics, which were held in 2012.
Personal information
| Name | Saina Nehwal |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 17 March 1990 |
| Birth place | Hisar, Haryana, India |
| Weight | 65 kg |
| Height | 5'5 |
| Mother's name | Usha Nehwal |
| Father's name | Harvir Singh Nehwal (Scientist) |
| Married to | Parupalli Kashyap (Badminton player) |
| Handedness | Right |
| Career span | 2005-present |
Saina Nehwal Education
Saina Nehwal completed her pre-university education by attending several schools in Hisar and Haryana. They include St. Ann’s College for Women in Hyderabad, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Public School in Hyderabad, NIRD School Rajendranager in Hyderabad, and Campus School CCS HAU in Hisar.
Achievements and awards received
Saina Nehwal has won 24 titles, including 10 super-series titles, and has represented her country, India, in the Olympics almost thrice.
She began her international journey after winning the 2006 World Junior Championship. Also, she created history by winning the Asian Satellite Badminton Tournament twice and becoming the first player to achieve this feat.
She won a gold medal in singles at the Commonwealth Youth Championships. In 2009, she won the Indonesia Open and became the first Indian player to win a BWF Super Series title.
She also won a bronze medal at the Asian Championships and a bronze medal in 2012 at the London Olympics. In 2014, she defeated Wang Yihan and won the Australian Super Series.
She won a bronze medal at the World badminton championship in 2017, and in 2018, she won two gold medals in singles and mixed doubles at the Commonwealth Games.
Rather than this, she is also honored with some national awards:
- 2009- Arjuna Award.
- 2009- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award
- 2010- Padma Shri.
- 2016- Padma Bhushan Award.
Training sessions
Saina Nehwal was born in Hisar in 1990 to Usha Rani Nehwal and Harvir Singh Nehwal as their younger daughter. And at her birth, her grandparents felt disappointed and did not visit baby Saina for many months. Her parents also played badminton for several years; her mother was a Haryana state player, whereas her father was a university-level player.
During her childhood, Saina accompanied her mother to a local club in Haryana.
And her father even utilized his provident fund so she could provide Saina with good training.
Saina first started taking her training under the guidance of Pullela Gopichand in his academy, Gopichand Academy, in 2014 but then left Gopichand. But after a few years, she joined the Prakash Padukone Academy in Bangalore, where she took her training under the guidance of U. Vimal Kumar.
In 2002, Saina won her first badminton title; it was the U-13 Sub-Junior National title, and just after two years, she also won the title of Junior National. And in 2006, she won the title of runner-up in the Junior World Championships.
In 2018 she got married to Parupalli Kashyap, who is also an Indian professional badminton player. And now, she trains with her husband, Parupalli Kashyap.
Saina Nehwal Coach
At different times, Saina Nehwal had Pullela Gopichand and Vimal Kumar as personal coaches. At the 2012 London Olympics, Saina Nehwal took home a bronze medal. She saw Pullela Gopichand as her mentor and a guardian away from home. The two, however, split in 2014, and Saina changed her base from Hyderabad to Bangalore. Saina selected former national champion U. Vimal Kumar as her new coach.
Saina Nehwal received numerous international honors while playing under Vimal Kumar and rose to the top of the women’s singles rankings globally.
She became the first Indian woman to compete in the All-England final between 2014 and 2017 under the guidance of Vimal Kumar. She received two medals from the world championships: a silver in 2015 and a bronze in 2017. For Saina Nehwal, it was a time of greatness.
Saina and Gopichand reunited in 2017 to “realize her goals.” But injuries and poor form hampered Saina’s development, and in the end, she was unable to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics due to a lack of ranking points. And right now, she trains with her husband, Parupalli Kashyap, under the guidance of Vimal Kumar.
Saina Nehwal Husband
Saina Nehwal is married to fellow badminton player Parupalli Kashyap. They tied the knot in an intimate ceremony on December 14, 2018.
Saina Nehwal Net-worth
Sania Nehwal’s total net worth is thought to be 5 million US dollars or 36 crores in Indian rupees. Also, her net worth has increased by 25% in recent years.
Rather than this, her personal assets and endorsements are her main income sources.
Sania also makes money from the prize money, and at the Australian Open, she claimed an astonishing amount of Rs 51,87,660 ($77,275). She is the third-highest-paid badminton player in the entire world.
Overall her average earnings and yearly revenue are about $300,000.
Political life
Saina Nehwal claims that she is a huge fan of our prime minister, Mr. Narendra Singh Modi and that he is also an inspiration to her. Due to this, on January 29, 2020, she and her sister, Abu Chandranshu, joined the BJP in Delhi in the presence of the Party’s National General Secretary, Arun Singh.
Final Words
Saina Nehwal was the first Indian badminton player to win a medal at the Olympics. In contrast, P.V. Sindhu was the second Indian badminton player to win a medal at the Olympics. These two players are idols for many young talents and rising players in India. Also, they gave a boost to women’s empowerment. And to become a player like them, remember that nothing is impossible with the right mindset and hard work.
And in case you face any problems or have any questions regarding this post, feel free to ask us or pin them up in the comment section below.