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Revision as of 08:51, 3 August 2012

Saina Nehwal
File:Saina-nehwal.jpg
Personal information
Nickname(s)super saina
Country India
Born (1990-03-17) March 17, 1990 (age 34)[1]
Dhindar, Hisar district,[2] Haryana, India
ResidenceHyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Height1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight60 kg (130 lb)
HandednessRight
CoachIndia Pullela Gopichand
Indonesia Atik Jauhari
Women's singles
Career title(s)2009 Indonesia Super Series, 2010 Singapore Super Series, 2010 Indonesia Super Series, 2010 Hong Kong Super Series, Chinese Taipei Open, 2010 India Open Grand Prix Gold, Swiss Open 2011, Swiss Open 2012, 2012 Indonesia Super Series Premier
Highest ranking2[3] (December 2, 2010)
Current ranking5[4] (15 March 2012)
Medal record
Representing  India
Women's Badminton
world Championships
Gold medal – first place 2008 India Girl's singles
Commonwealth games
Gold medal – first place 2010 India Women's Singles
Asian Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2010 New Delhi Women's Singles
BWF profile

Saina Nehwal (born March 17, 1990) is an Indian Khel Ratna badminton player currently ranked 4 in the world by Badminton World Federation.[4] She was born in a Jat family in Dhindar, Hisar district, Haryana, India. Saina is supported by the Olympic Gold Quest. Saina is the first Indian to reach the Semi-finals of a Badminton tournament in Olympics. She achieved it at the London Olympics 2012. She is the first Indian to win the World Junior Badminton Championships. Saina Nehwal made history on June 21, 2009, becoming the first Indian to win a Super Series tournament, by clinching the Indonesia Open with a victory over higher-ranked Chinese Wang Lin in Jakarta.

Saina won her second career Super Series title by winning the Singapore Open title on June 20, 2010. She completed a hat-trick in the same year by winning the Indonesian Open on June 27, 2010. This win resulted in her rise to 3rd ranking and subsequently to No. 2. Later in the same year she also won Hong Kong Super Series on December 12, 2010. After experiencing a poor 2011 season, Saina become the first Indian singles player to reach the summit stage of year-ending Super Series Finals defeating two-time All England champion and World No. 5 Tine Baun in the semi-finals. A feat, that she repeated in the quarterfinals in the London Olympics 2012.

Previously coached by S. M. Arif, a Dronacharya Award winner, Saina is the reigning Indian national junior champion and is currently coached by Indonesian badminton legend Atik Jauhari since August 2008,[5] with the former All England champion and national coach Pullela Gopichand being her mentor.

Saina Nehwal was born in a Jat family [6] to Dr Harvir singh Nehwal and Usha Nehwal in the city of Hisar, Haryana and completed first few years of her schooling from Campus School. Her Father, Dr Harvir singh originally hails from village "Dhindar" which falls under Modinagar Tehsil in District Ghaziabad(U.P). Harvir singh initially worked in CCS HAU and they then had their residence in the University Campus.[7] He later shifted to Hyderabad & so Saina spent her growing years in Hyderabad, India. Her foray into the world of badminton was influenced by her father Dr. Harvir Singh, a scientist at the Directorate of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad and her mother Usha Nehwal,[1] both of whom were former badminton champions in Haryana. She is the top ranked player (women) in Indian Badminton history.[8] In 2012, journalist and former NDTV editor T S Sudhir wrote a biography on Saina[9]

Childhood and early training

She has got brown belt in Karate. She quit Karate at age of 8, when she was asked to have a motorcycle run over her stomach[10] She practised Badminton in Badminton Court of Faculty Club of CCS HAU located in the University itself.[11]

Sponsorship

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)[12] signed the rising star onto their payroll, and she is also supported by Olympic Gold Quest.[13]

Career summary

Saina was the under-19 national champion. Saina 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 first Indian woman to win a 4-star tournament, the Philippines Open.[14] 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 also saw Saina as 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.[15] Maria Yulianti had earlier lost her quarter-final match to Pia Bernadet, Saina's semi-final opponent, thus denying Saina a rematch.

Saina has been named The Most Promising Player in 2008.[16] She reached the world super series semifinals in the month of December 2008.[17]

On 21 June 2009, she became the first Indian[18] 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 was rewarded with Arjuna award in August, 2009 and her coach Gopichand was also rewarded with Dronacharya award at the same time.

Saina has been signed up by Olympic Gold Quest to support her in fulfilling her dream of winning the Olympic gold medal.[19] Saina has been awarded with Padma Shri award in January 2010. Saina is the brand ambassador of Deccan Chargers, an Indian Premier League team owned by Deccan Chronicle. She has also become one of the 8 brand ambassadors of 2010 Commonwealth Games held on New Delhi India.

Her strategy, at the beginning of 2010, was to ignore ranking points and focus her energies on premier tournaments. That seems to be working as she has won three titles (including two in India), and has reached the semis of two majors. With the World Championships, Commonwealth and Asian Games coming up, her preparation couldn’t have been better. Saina was awarded the highest national sporting award given to a player, The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award on 29 August 2010.

On October 14, 2010 Saina won the gold medal against Wong Mew Choo of Malaysia 19–21, 23–21, 21–13 in CWG Delhi, thereby creating a monumental moment in India's badminton history.

On December 12, 2010 she won the Hong Kong super series defeating Wang Shixian of China 15–21, 21–16, 21–17. Saina Nehwal won 2010 Commonwealth games gold in the women's singles badminton event held in the Siri Fort Auditorium, Delhi, on 14 October 2010.

On June 10, 2012 she won the Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold final defeating Ratchanok Inthanon in three sets.

On June 17, 2012 she successfully reclaimed the Indonesian championship by beating Li Xuerui of China. It is her third Indonesian open title, having won it twice before in 2009 and 2010.

Career record

Event Year Result
Czech Republic Czechoslovakia Junior Open 2003  Gold
Australia 2004 Commonwealth Youth Games 2004  Silver
India Asian Satellite Badminton Tournament 2005  Gold
Australia 2006 Commonwealth Games 2006  Bronze
Philippines Philippines Open (badminton) 2006  Gold
India Asian Satellite Badminton Tournament 2006  Gold
India Indian National Badminton Championships 2007  Gold
India National Games of India 2007  Gold
Chinese Taipei 2008 Chinese Taipei Open Grand Prix Gold 2008  Gold
India Indian National Badminton Championships 2008  Gold
India 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games 2008  Gold
India 2008 BWF World Junior Championships 2008  Gold
Malaysia 2008 BWF Super Series Masters finals 2008 Semifinalist
Indonesia 2009 Indonesia Super Series 2009  Gold
India2009 BWF World Championships 2009 Quarterfinalist
India 2009 Indian Open Grand Prix 2009  Gold
England 2010 All England Super Series 2010 Semifinalist
India2010 Badminton Asia Championships 2010  Bronze
India 2010 India Open Grand Prix Gold 2010  Gold
Singapore 2010 Singapore Open Super Series 2010  Gold
Indonesia 2010 Indonesia Open Super Series 2010  Gold
France 2010 BWF World Championships 2010 Quarter-finalist
India 2010 Commonwealth Games 2010  Gold
Hong Kong 2010 Hong Kong Super Series 2010  Gold
Switzerland 2011 Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold 2011  Gold
Malaysia 2011 Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold 2011  Silver
Indonesia 2011 Indonesia Open Super Series Premier 2011  Silver
France 2011 BWF World Championships 2011 Quarter-finalist
China 2011 BWF Super Series Masters Finals 2011  Silver
Switzerland 2012 Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold 2012  Gold
Thailand 2012 Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold 2012  Gold
Indonesia 2012 Indonesia Open Super Series Premier 2012  Gold

2008

Summer Olympics

Stage Opponent Result Games Points
First Round Ella Diehl Won 2–0 21–9, 21–8
Second Round Larisa Griga Won 2–0 21–18, 21–10
Third Round Wang Chen Won 2–1 21–19, 11–21, 21–11
Quarter-finals Maria Kristin Yulianti Lost 1–2 28–26, 14–21, 15–21

2010

  • Saina successfully lead the Indian Women Team to the Quarter-finals stage of the 2010 Uber Cup finals.
  • 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 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 has reached a career high of world no. 3 in the women's singles badminton world rankings on 24 June 2010.[20]
  • 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.[21] 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.”[22]
  • Saina Nehwal confirmed her participation for the 2010 Hong Kong Super series to held from 7 Dec 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 Nehwal 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 June 26.
  • Saina 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.
  • Saina Nehwal 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 Nehwal lost in semi finals of 2011 Japan Super Series against Juliane Schenk of Germany in straight games 19-21, 10-21.
  • Saina Nehwal disappointed once in the 2011 Denmark Super Series Premier as she lost to 17 year old teen Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan in straight games 19-21, 13-21 in the second round.
  • Saina Nehwal 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 Nehwal lost in semi finals of 2011 Hong Kong Super Series against World No. 7 Tine Baun of Denmark in straight games 16-21, 15-21.
  • Saina Nehwal 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

  • Saina Nehwal successfully defended her Swiss Open Title by defeating World No. 2 Wang Shixian of China 21-19 21-16 on 18 March 2012, 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.[24]
  • 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.[25][26] This is her 3rd Indonesia Open title.[27]
  • Nehwal reached Semi Finals at the 2012 London Olympics after defeating Sabrina Jaquet of Switzerland[28][29] and Lianne Tan of Belgium in the group phase[30], Yao Jie of Netherlands in the pre-quarters [31] and Tine Baun of Denmark in the quarters.

2012 London Summer Olympics

Stage Opponent Result Games Points
Group Stage  Jaquet (SUI) Won 2–0 21–9, 21–4
Group Stage  L Tan (BEL) Won 2–0 21-4, 21-14
Pre-Quarter-finals  Yao Jie (NED) Won 2–0 21-14, 21-16
Quarter-finals  Tine Baun (DEN) Won 2–0 21-15, 22-20
Semi-finals  Wang Yihan (CHN) Lost 0–2 21-13, 21-13

Record against top ranked players

Record against Super Series finalists, World Championships semifinalists, and Olympic quarterfinalists.[32]

(as on June 17, 2012)

References

  1. ^ a b "Saina Nehwal | India Medal Hopes | Badminton | Delhi Commonwealth Games | Profile | Career - Oneindia News". News.oneindia.in. 2010-09-24. Retrieved 2011-06-29.
  2. ^ badmintonindia.org
  3. ^ – Best World Ranking
  4. ^ a b BWF rankings
  5. ^ Atik Jauhari, India's Foreign Coach not happy with players – dated 16 April 2009
  6. ^ We womens Today. http://www.wewomentoday.com/2010/07/20/saina-nehwal/. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ^ "Think higher education! Saina Nehwal: "Don't leave studies"". Careers360. 3 March 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  8. ^ Saina Nehwal Latest Photos
  9. ^ Saina's story
  10. ^ "Saina Nehwal gave up karate to embrace badminton". 06 July 2012. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ "Image makeover for super Saina Nehwal". The Times Of India. 6 February 2011.
  12. ^ BPCL
  13. ^ Olympic Gold Quest Official website
  14. ^ Saina creates history, wins Philippines Open – The Hindu dated 29 May 2006
  15. ^ Saina wins Chinese Taipei Open
  16. ^ Most Promising Player 2008
  17. ^ Saina only wins praises but no prize money
  18. ^ Saina Nehwal wins Indonesian Open
  19. ^ Saina Olympic Dream
  20. ^ SamayLive: Saina becomes World No3
  21. ^ Subrahmanyam, V. V. (27 June 2010). "Saina Nehwal clinches third Super Series title". The Hindu. Chennai, India.
  22. ^ Rao, Rakesh (14 October 2010). "Saina wins singles gold". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  23. ^ BWF World Super Series Ranking – Womens Singles
  24. ^ "Saina Nehwal". Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  25. ^ "Saina Nehwal wins the Indonesia Open". 17 June 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |news= ignored (|newspaper= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ "Current Ranking". 14 June 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  27. ^ "Saina Nehwal wins her third Indonesia Open title". 17 June 2012.
  28. ^ "London Olympics: Saina and Kashyap court success". Retrieved 02-08-2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  29. ^ Srinivasan, Kamesh (30 July 2012). "Saina Nehwal off to a good start". The Hindu. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  30. ^ "Saina reaches pre-quarters, Jwala-Ashwini keep hopes alive". Business Standard. London. Press Trust of India. 31 July 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  31. ^ "London Olympics Badminton: Saina Nehwal eases into semi-finals". London. Retrieved 02 August 2012. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  32. ^ "Record against top ranked players". Tournament software India. Retrieved 1 August 2012.

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Awards
Preceded by Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
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