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Look who’s playing the right shots
Success comes easy to this 19-year-old badminton player, who’s been on our Next Big Things list the second year running.
Sportsperson: Saina Nehwal
Success comes easy to this 19-year-old badminton player, who’s been on our Next Big Things list the second year running. Ask her how she feels and she says, “I feel honoured being chosen as the sportsperson of the year for a second time in a row. I would like to thank the Hindustan Times for the gesture. But with the expectations come the responsibilities. So I’d like to keep up the tempo at the Commonwealth Games too.”
Born in Hissar, Haryana, Saina made her foray into the world of badminton at the age of eight. By then, Saina’s family had moved to Hyderabad. Influenced by her father, former national champion Harvir Singh, she met her first coach Nani Prasad in Hyderabad. Nani saw the potential in her and enrolled her as a summer trainee.
Saina is the first Indian to have won a Super Series title when she triumphed at the Indonesian event in June this year. A big fan of Shah Rukh Khan (she watches all his films), Saina broke into the top-10 ranking early this year, a big achievement for an Indian player.
After a highly promising 2008 when she won the Chinese Taipei title, Saina proved once again why she is the brightest star in Indian badminton as she went a step ahead this year.
She was given the coveted Arjuna Award in August, while her mentor Pullela Gopichand received the Dronacharya Award.
Out judges
Anshuman Gaekwad, Cricketer
Sreesanth: Made a strong comeback
Saina Nehwal: Good performance
Pankaj Advani: Consistent and confident
Baichung Bhutia, Footballer
Somdev Burman: Great potential
Vijender Singh: Hunger to be a world champ
Saina Nehwal: Dedicated and hardworking
Vishwanathan Anand, Chess player
Saina Nehwal: She’ll make it to the top
Sethuraman and Adhiban: Determined and promising
Pankaj Advani: Ability to retain his title
