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Saina Nehwal is arguably the best badminton player that India has produced. The former world number one is the only shuttler from India to win a medal at the olympics. She is also the second Indian women (after Karnam Malleswari) to win a medal at the olympics.
Nehwal has been a huge sensation since her early days. She was the youngest player to win a four star tournament – Philippine Open – in May 2006. She was just 16 years old when she achieved the feat.
Teenage Sensation at the Beijing Olympics
Saina Nehwal became one of the youngest Indian athlete to qualify for olympics at the age of 18. In the round of 16, she created one of the biggest upsets of the tournament when she beat fourth seed Wang Chen from Malaysia in straight sets.
However, she failed to make a place in top 4 as she lost to world number 16 Pia Bernadet in the quarterfinals in a three set nail-biter.
Bronze in London
Saina Nehwal had qualified for London Olympics in 2012 on the back of successful performances in Swiss Open, Thailand Open and Indonesia Open. She marched into the semi-finals where she was scheduled to face Xin Wang, world number two at that time.
Nehwal lost the hard fought first set by 18-21 but luck was on her side. Wang suffered an injury in her leg during the first set. She tried to continue with the game but had to retire as the pain became unbearable. Hence, Nehwal won the bronze without much sweat.
Although the victory was a dream come true for Nehwal, she wasn’t pleased by the way she achieved it.
Saina Nehwal will once again represent Indian contingent at the olympics. The Quint wishes her all the best for Mission Rio.
Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam
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