Saina Nehwal

Saina Nehwal (born 17 March 1990) is an Indian badminton player who is currently ranked No. 2 in the world by Badminton World Federation Women's Singles 2015.She is the first Indian to win a medal in Badminton at the Olympics.She achieved this feat by winning the Bronze medal at the London Olympics 2012 on 4 August 2012.She is also the first Indian after Prakash Padukone and the first Indian woman to become world number 1.Besides these, she is the first Indian to win the World Junior Badminton Championships and was also the first Indian to win a Super Series tournament, by clinching the Indonesia Open on 21 June 2009. Saina is supported by the Olympic Gold Quest.

Saina was initially coached by S. M. Arif a Dronacharya Award winner, and then by Pullela Gopichand till 2014 September. Saina is the reigning Indian national champion and is currently coached by the former Indian badminton champion and national coach P. Kulkarni. Saina Nehwal plays for Hyderabad Hotshots in the Indian Badminton League. She won silver at 2015 BWF World Campionship becoming the first Indian woman to do so.

Personal life

Saina Nehwal was the second daughter of Harvir Singh and Usha Rani, born at the University Hospital of the Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University in Hisar.Her father worked in CCS HAU and she completed her first few years of schooling at Campus School CCS HAU, Hisar. The family later shifted to Hyderabad. Nehwal also has a brown belt in Karate.

Career
2006-2009 

In 2006, Saina became the under-19 national champion and created history by winning the prestigious Asian Satellite Badminton tournament (India Chapter) twice, becoming the first player to do so. In 2006, Saina appeared on the global scene when she became the second Indian woman to win a 4-star tournament, the Philippines Open. Entering the tournament as the 86th seed, Saina went on to stun several top seeded players including the then world number four Xu Huaiwen before defeating Julia Wong Pei Xian of Malaysia for the title. The same year Saina was also the runner up at the 2006 BWF World Junior Championships, where she lost a hard fought match against top seed Chinese Wang Yihan. She did one better in the 2008 by becoming the first Indian to win the World Junior Badminton Championships by defeating ninth seeded Japanese Sayaka Sato 21–9, 21–18.

She became the first Indian woman to reach the quarter finals at the Olympic Games when she upset world number five and fourth seed Wang Chen of Hong Kong in a three-game thriller. In the quarter-finals Saina lost a nail biting 3-gamer to world number 16 Maria Kristin Yulianti. In September 2008, she won the Yonex Chinese Taipei Open 2008 beating Lydia Cheah Li Ya of Malaysia 21–8 21–19. Maria Yulianti had earlier lost her quarter-final match to Pia Bernadet, Saina's semi-final opponent, thus denying Saina a rematch. Saina was named "The Most Promising Player" in 2008.She reached the world super series semifinals in the month of December 2008.

On 21 June 2009, she became the first Indian to win a BWF Super Series title, the most prominent badminton series of the world by winning the Indonesia Open. She beat Chinese Wang Lin in the final 12–21, 21–18, 21–9. Saina on winning the tournament said, "I had been longing to win a super series tournament since my quarter final appearance at the Olympics". Saina is on the par with the likes of Prakash Padukone and her mentor Pullela Gopichand who both won the all England championships which are of similar status to the super series. In August 2009 she reached the quarterfinals of world championship losing to the second seed Lin Wang.

Saina Nehwal

Saina Nehwal With Family

 

Saina Nehwal

2010

Saina successfully led the Indian Women Team to the Quarter-finals stage of the 2010 Uber Cup finals. Saina became the first Indian Woman to reach the semi finals of 2010 All-England Super Series before losing to eventual champion Tine Rasmussen. Top seeded Saina reached the semifinals of Yonex Sunrise Badminton Asia Championships 2010 losing out to unseeded eventual champion Li Xuerui of China. Saina's Coach Gopichand advised her not exert too much pressure on herself due to the overwhelming home crowd support. Saina wins the 2010 India Open Grand Prix Gold, beating Wong Mew Choo of Malaysia in the final and thus justifying her billing as top seed in the tournament. She won a prize money of $8,280 for winning this BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament. Nehwal, again seeded no.1 in the Singapore Open Super Series 2010, entered the finals defeating World champion Lu Lan of China. Saina won the second Super Series title of her career by beating qualifier Tai Tzu-Ying of Chinese Taipei in the final of the Singapore Open 21–18, 21–15. But the fact that she won the tournament in the absence of all the top 5 ranked players (who all happen to be Chinese), takes a little sheen away from her path breaking victory. Saina won a prize money of $15,000 for winning this BWF Super Series tournament. Saina reached a career high of world no. 3 in the women's singles badminton world rankings on 24 June 2010.[19] Saina defended her Indonesia Open super series title in three tough games against Sayaka Sato of Japan, 21–19 / 13–21 / 21–11.This is her third super series title and her third successive title following wins at Indian open, Singapore Super series. She again won the top prize money of $18,750 for winning this BWF Super Series tournament. On 15 July 2010, with 64791.26 points Saina Nehwal reached a career high world ranking of No. 2 only behind Wang Yihan of China. 2nd seed Saina, a tournament favourite, crashed out of the 2010 BWF World Championships in Paris after losing to 4th ranked Chinese Wang Shixian in straight sets 8–21, 14–21. She although equalled her tournament best performance, as she was also a losing quarter-finalist in the last edition held in Hyderabad. She subsequently dropped a spot to be No. 3 in the world rankings.

Top seed Saina, won the gold medal in the Women's Singles badminton event in the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in New Delhi. She beat Wong Mew Choo of Malaysia 19–21 23–21 21–13. After her win Saina said, "when I was a match-point down, it was like a shock. It was a big match and winning it means a lot to me. Even many years from now, those present here will always remember how Saina won the gold. It is a proud feeling".In the BWF Super Series ranking for the year 2010 (which only considers the performances of players in the elite world super series tournaments), as on 27 September 2010, Saina has dropped to No. 7 from a high of No. 1 after giving a miss to 2010 China Masters Super Series and 2010 Japan Super Series due to her preparation for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. As on 5 Dec 2010, for the first time in the year Saina Nehwal dropped out of the top 10 best performers in the 2010 BWF Super Series rankings.

Saina Nehwal confirmed her participation for the 2010 Hong Kong Super series to held from 7 to 12 Dec 2010 and is also the penultimate super series tournament of the year. This would be Saina's first super series tournament after a gap of more than 5 months since her win in the 2010 Indonesia Super Series in June 2010. On 12 December 2010, Saina Nehwal defeated Wang Shixian 15–21, 21–16, 21–17 in the final of the 2010 Hong Kong Super Series to win her fourth career Super Series title.

 2011 

4th seed Saina Nehwal crashed out of the 2011 Korea Open Super Series Premier on 27 January 2011 in the 2nd round. She was defeated by the Japanese Sayaka Sato in a tight 3 set match with score 17–21,21–19 and 21–11. 5th seed Saina, was disappointed when she was defeated by Eriko Hirose of Japan at 2011 All England Super Series Premier on 11 March 2011. She was defeated in straight sets with a score of 21–11 and 22–20. It was her second early exit of the year after being defeated in Korean Premium Super Series earlier in January. One week later, on 17 March 2011, she met Eriko Hirose again (in the second round of the Wilson Badminton Swiss Open), but managed to win this time in three games 21–15, 17–21 and 21–11 – on her birthday. 2nd seed Saina Nehwal beat Ji Hyun Sung of South Korea 21–13, 21–14 to win the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold badminton title on 20 March 2011. Saina posed an early exit from the Indian Open Super Series in Delhi. She disappointed the home crowd being defeated by Ai Goto of Japan in straight games 21–17 and 21–19.

Saina Nehwal faltered after a good start as she lost to the then world number three Wang Xin of China in the finals to finish runner-up in the 2011 Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold tournament on 8 May 2011. Saina Nehwal participated in the 2011 BWF Double Star Sudirman Cup Mixed team event, she won her first match against Tzu Ying Tai of Chinese Taipei which was a tough three setter 21–10, 12–21 21–17, but India lost the tie 3–2. She was then shocked in her second match by current Junior World Champion & 16-year-old teen sensation Ratchanok Inthanon of Thailand losing in straight sets 21–14, 22–20, but India managed to beat Thailand 3–2 in the tie to book a spot in the quarterfinals of the Elite mixed team event for the first time in the history of the tournament. In the quarterfinals against the mighty Chinese, Saina put up her best performance and beat the then World number two Xin Wang in straight sets 21–15, 21–11, but still the Chinese managed to move into the semi finals with a 3–1 win over India. Saina lost to Li Xuerui of China in the quarterfinals of the Thailand Open GP Gold.

Defending Champion Saina lost to Cheng Shao-chieh of Chinese Taipei in the second round of Singapore Open Super Series. Saina, in her attempt to record a third straight win at the Indonesia Open Super Series Premier, reached the finals where she lost to Wang Yihan of China to finish as runner-up, on 26 June. Nehwal crashed out of World Championship 2011 as she lost 15–21, 10–21 to World Number 3 Wang Xin of China in a lop-sided women's singles match. Saina, who reached the quarterfinals in the last two editions of the event, had to be contend with yet another last-eight finish. She lost in quarter finals of 2011 China Masters Super Series against World No. 1 Wang Yihan of China in straight games 8–21, 12–21. Saina lost in semi finals of 2011 Japan Super Series against Juliane Schenk of Germany in straight games 19–21, 10–21. In the 2011 Denmark Super Series Premier, she lost to 17-year-old teen Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan in straight games 19–21, 13–21 in the second round.[25] Saina repeated her shocking second round exit in the 2011 French Super Series as she lost to World No. 16 Li Xuerui of China in straight games 18–21, 29–30. Saina lost in quarter finals of 2011 Hong Kong Super Series against World No. 7 Tine Baun of Denmark in straight games 16–21, 15–21.

Saina was defeated in the very first round of 2011 China Open Super Series Premier by World No. 8 Bae Youn-joo of South Korea 21–15, 22–24, 15–21. During the season ending tournament in December, Saina Nehwal created history by becoming the first Indian singles player to reach the final of BWF Super Series Masters Finals after defeating World No. 5 Tine Baun of Denmark to cruise 21–17, 21–18 in the semifinals of the 2011 BWF Super Series Masters Finals in Liuzhou (China).She went on to lose the final 21–18, 13–21, 13–21 against the World No. 1 Chinese Wang Yihan in a contest lasting over an hour.

 

2012-2015

Saina successfully did her Swiss Open Title by defeating World No 2 Wang Shixian of China 21–19 21–16 on 18 March 2012,[30] a day after she turned 22 years old. On 10 June 2012, Saina defeated Thailand’s Ratchanok Inthanon 19–21 21–15 21–10, to lift the Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold title.

On 17 June 2012, Saina Nehwal won the Indonesia Open Super Series by defeating World No. 3 Li Xuerui of China 13–21, 22–20 21–19.It was her 3rd Indonesia Open title. On 4 August 2012, she won the bronze medal at the London Olympics when China's Wang Xin retired from the match after an injury with the match at 18–21, 0–1. On 21 October 2012, she won the Denmark Open Super Series Premier after defeating Wang Yihan 21-12 12-7 in the semifinal. Yihan got retired hurt in this match after losing first set and trailing in second set. In the final Saina defeated Juliane Schenk of Germany in two straight sets to lift her first Denmark open trophy.


On 26 January 2014 Saina defeated World Championship bronze medalist P.V. Sindhu 21-14, 21-17 to win the Women's Singles of India Open Grand Prix Gold Tournament. On March,2014 World No. 4 Saina Nehwal, who had a win-loss record of 4-2 against the Chinese ace Wang Shixian, crashed out of the 2014 All England Super Series Premier after losing her quarter-final match. Saina took revenge of All England loss by defeating Wang Shixian in semifinals of 2014 Australian Super Series. In final on June 29, 2014 Saina defeated Spain's Carolina Marin 21-18, 21-11 to win Women's Singles of 2014 Australian Super Series. The win helped her to reach the ranking of World no. 7, climbing two spots.

She became the 1st Indian woman to win the China Open Super Series Premier by beating Japan's Akane Yamaguchi 21-12, 22-20 in the final.


Defending Champion Saina Nehwal won the 2015 India Open Grand Prix Gold by defeating Spain's Carolina Marin in the Final. She became the first Indian woman shuttler to reach the finals of All England Open Badminton Championships, but lost to Carolina in the final. On 29 March 2015, Saina won her maiden women's singles title at the India Open (badminton)|India Open]] BWF Super Series beating Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand. This assured her of becoming World number 1 when the latest BWF rankings were released on April 2. Thus, she became the first Indian women's player to be World No.1 in badminton.On 16th Aug 2015, Saina went down fighting to Carolina Marin again, in the Final of World Badminton Championships held in Jakarta, settling for the Silver.  

 

Endorsements

In 2002, sports brand Yonex offered to sponsor Saina’s kit. As her status and rankings improved, the sponsorships increased. In 2004, BPCL (Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited)signed the rising star. She is one of the athletes supported by Olympic Gold Quest. She is the brand ambassador of Sahara India Pariwar. Saina endorses Herbalife, Top Ramen Noodles,Fortune Cooking Oil,Indian Overseas Bank, Vaseline, Sahara and Yonex.

She had signed an endorsement deal worth Rs. 400 million with the popular sports management firm Rhiti Sports in 2012. However, she severed this deal in 2013 and signed up with KWAN entertainment and marketing solutions for an undisclosed sum.She has a dedicated sporting range with the multinational sports goods manufacturer Yonex, 4% of the profits of which goes to her. Apart from endorsements, she has also been invited on popular Indian television shows as a guest including Satyamev Jayate and Comedy Nights with Kapil. 

 Award

World Championships
Silver medal – second place     2015 Jakarta     Women's Singles

Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place     2012 London     Women's singles

Asian Championships
Bronze medal – third place     2010 New Delhi     Women's singles

Uber Cup
Bronze medal – third place     2014 New Delhi     Team
 

Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place     2014 Incheon     Women's team
 

Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place     2010 New Delhi     Women's singles
Silver medal – second place     2010 New Delhi     Mixed Team
Bronze medal – third place     2006 Melbourne     Mixed Team
 

World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place     2008 Pune     Girls' singles
Silver medal – second place     2006 Incheon     Girls' singles
 

Commonwealth Youth Games
Gold medal – first place     2008 Pune     Girl's singles
Silver medal – second place     2004 Bendigo     Mixed team 

News For Saina Nehwal

Despite World Championships final loss, Saina Nehwal will be No.1

HYDERABAD: Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal blamed her loss in the World Championships final on silly errors at crucial times during the second game. Admitting that she did not play at her best, Saina said that the final was more a mental battle than physical.

"I could have done better today. I made too many mistakes in the first game. I have no problems with fitness. But the final is more mental than physical. I made one silly error during a crucial moment in the second game," said Saina, adding that the experience of having already played a World Championships final helped Carolina more.

"In the second game, I was on the slower side. I was trying to make rallies happen but the points went very quickly. When you have experience of playing a WC final, it's easier. She was more at ease and not thinking of winning or losing," added Saina, who will be come No.1 when the rankings are announced next Thursday.

Despite her win, Carolina who is the reigning No.1, will only retain her 80,612 points and will not get a single point more. However, Saina, who lost in the quarterfinals last year will secure an additional 3600 points which will take her overall tally to 82,792 points. Saina became world No.1 for the first time on April 2 this year and was there for five weeks. The Indian may have a longer stint this time.

Meanwhile, Saina's coach Vimal Kumar blamed her loss on net play. "Her net play let her down and eventually that affected her confidence. Moreover, Saina appeared more contended in defending and the initiative to attack was not visible," said Vimal adding that there were a lot of positives from the championship.

Describing PV Sindhu as the next Saina of India, Harvir Singh Nehwal said that he was proud of his daughter. "I am proud of my daughter. She made India proud with her achievements. She may have lost but she had shown the way for many youngsters like Srikanth (Kidambi), HS Prannoy, Kashyap (Parupalli) and Sindhu. She showed the way and my heart says that Sindhu is the next Saina of India. She is doing very well.

"It is great to see so many shuttlers coming from the Gopichand Academy. I am happy that Padukone Academy, where Saina is practising now, is also producing several players. All these augur well for the development of the game," Harvir Singh said.

 

Committed too many mistakes in first game: Saina Nehwal

 JAKARTA: Indian ace Saina Nehwal on Sunday said she lacked patience and committed to many errors, which dashed her dreams of winning the gold medal at the prestigious World Badminton Championships.

World number 2 Saina settled for the silver after going down 16-21, 19-21 to her numero uno nemesis from Spain, Carolina Marin.

"Today I didn't play my best, I could've done better. Too many mistakes in first game. In the second, I had a lead, but points went by very quickly and within no time she was level," Saina said after losing to the All England champion in the title clash.

"I could've been more patient then during those 4-5 points. I had no problems with fitness. Final is more mental than physical. I made one silly error in the second game during a crucial moment.

"In the second set, I was on the slower side. I was trying to make rallies happen but the points went very quickly," she added.

Saina felt the experience of playing in the final helped defending champion Marin as she could play more freely.

"When you have experience of playing a World Cup final, it's easier. She was more free and not thinking of winning or losing," she said.

Marin said, "I feel more happy this time compared to last time. This was more difficult. I had a foot injury last month, I thought I couldn't play. I started playing two weeks ago, just wanted to enjoy the tournament.

"I just didn't want to make mistakes when I was down in the second game. She was more tired than me. I just kept thinking of each point, just wanted to enjoy the final and the crowd," she said.

Marin also thanked the supporters for rooting for her.

"Today I felt I was playing at home. Thanks to Indonesia for supporting me," she said.

 After scaling China wall, Saina Nehwal hits another 

A fresh chapter has begun for Saina Nehwal, and like most new challenges thrown at her in her badminton life, it needed to start with a big loss in the public glare of a massive final: she now returns to the drawing board and starts finding ways to stop losing to Marin, the marauding Spaniard.

India’s World No 2 was out-played 21-16, 21-19 by a rampaging Carolina Marin on Sunday at Jakarta’s World Championships, and given how widely the title final was followed across the country, the defeat will stay stamped on Indian minds and push Nehwal to find means to counter the World No. 1 against whom she has now come second-best in two big finals: All England and the Worlds.

Saina led 3-0 once, but the last one year has witnessed Marin not lose a big final. She played six, won four, and in total head-to-head goes up 2-3 to the Indian.


The finals at the sauna of an Istora Stadium cemented Marin’s reputation as a very popular World Champion – her second consecutive title in a row – on a day when Nehwal must’ve realised she’s no longer Indonesia’s sweetheart, given how lopsided the support was, in Marin’s favour. Indonesians love good badminton, and the 22-year-old top-ranked girl gave them that.

It should’ve been evident when Marin started tapping Nehwal’s drop-shots that the Indian was not going to finish this one right. It was the start though, that the Hyderabadi will kick herself for.

Pushed on the defensive at the very beginning, Nehwal never got to assert her own game, and was chasing the shuttle throughout the match, looking mighty worried about what was the next that Marin would pull out of her trick-bag.

Never in control

Lacking the assured movement and accuracy of the quarterfinals against Yihan Wang, Nehwal never looked in control of the match and was harried around by the quick-footed Spaniard. Where Nehwal lost her confidence – and the match – was at the net. Her errors from the forecourt kept growing and a couple of net-chords wouldn’t have helped. From 7-all in the opener, the gap would open like a crocodile’s jaw – 11-7, 16-10 and finally 21-16. Marin meanwhile was moving busily — you wouldn’t think she’d hurt her foot same time last month — and Nehwal’s pushes kept floating out. She was stabbing at them shakily, and not finding her lengths. The Spaniard’s dominance apparent from her aggression kept growing, and she had the better of the strokes — the round-the-heads and cross-courts at the net, and for the second time in six months, Nehwal wilted.

Two shots stood out: the overhead where Marin turns a shuttle on her backhand into a forehand stroke by arcing her snappy arm above the head, and her conventional left-handed forehand positioned next to the side alley that curves inside and came on Saina at an awkward angle. Shuttlers relish the accuracy on body smashes, but Marin could target Nehwal’s body even in that looping parabola. “I know she was more tired than me. I just kept thinking of each point, just wanted to enjoy the final and the crowd,” Marin said.

Even when the Indian led 12-6 in the second, Marin didn’t seem unduly worried. There were long rallies alright — some Saina even won — but Marin’s defense was outrageously persistent and she’d invariably chase the shuttle around and still find energy for the kill-shot, slumping Nehwal even further.

“Today I didn’t play my best, I could’ve done better. Too many mistakes in first game. In the second, I had a lead, but points went by very quickly and within no time she was level. I could’ve been more patient then during those 4-5 points,” she said, but you got the sense that even slowing the rallies down — not that Marin looked like in a mood to permit that — wouldn’t have helped Nehwal’s cause.

Changing plans

Nehwal can’t be accused of not attempting to change plans either — in one instance she tried a risky wrist deception from the net – changing direction of her stroke with a restraining locked wrist, but it was one of those days when she couldn’t pull it off. “In the second set, I was on the slower side. I was trying to make rallies happen but the points went very quickly,” she would say.

Saina is a good three years older than Marin and more experienced on the circuit. But that doesn’t necessarily equate the experience of the big final. “When you have the experience of playing a WC final, it’s easier. She was more free (sic) and not thinking of winning or losing,” Nehwal said.

Between 13-all and 17-evens in the second set, Nehwal would offer her best resistance — long constructed rallies finishing in an attacking smash as Marin started tiring, but for large parts of the match, the Indian had forgotten her instinctive weapon — the brutish smash — or wasn’t allowed to remember. “She was defensive, and the initiative was not there. She looked more worried about what Carolina would do next than playing her own game,” coach Vimal Kumar said.

Marin has beaten Chinese Xuerui Li and Yihan Wang, two of the most dominating players in their last few meetings, and it is clearly tough to beat her at her natural game. Nehwal needed to be at her best, and driven zealously — also prepared specifically for her.

It could be said that Nehwal was spent at the quarters obsessing over beating Yihan Wang and fizzled out in the final, returning with a silver. But all of Marin’s challengers have discovered that they need to be armed with Plans A, B and C to counter her. Sung Ji Hyun took her to three sets in the semis, but didn’t look like she could’ve won the decider. As World No. 2 though, the onus is on Saina to find the solution.

Marin has struggled against Intanon Ratchanok (she’s 0-4 still) and the Thai is in possession of deception and so completely comfortable in slowing down the pace and frustrating the restless Marin that it doesn’t seem like an answer to Saina’s hassles.

“One thing we know about Saina from this World Championship is that she can break jinxes. But we’ll need to be patient for her to figure out Marin,” former international Arvind Bhat, cautions. It’ll be a new chapter of her shuttle training — devising a gameplan against Carolina Marin, who is handing her drubbings like the 21-7 decider at All England and the straight sets one-sided battle of the Worlds. The last time someone heaped the down-and-out treatment on her was Chinese Yihan Wang. For solving that part of the puzzle eventually, Saina Nehwal deserves the silver.