Saina Nehwal

Personal Information

• Country: India
• Born: 17 March 1990, Hisar, Haryana, India
• Residence: Hyderabad, Telangana, India
• Height: 1.65 m
• Weight: 65 kg
• Spouse: Parupalli Kashyap (married 2018)
• Handedness: Right
• Coach: Pullela Gopichand
• Career Record: 451 wins, 223 losses
• Highest Ranking: 1 (2 April 2015)

Achievements

• Olympic Games: Bronze in 2012 London
• World Championships: Silver in 2015, Bronze in 2017
• Commonwealth Games: Gold in 2010 and 2018, with additional team medals
• Asian Games: Bronze in 2018
• Asian Championships: Multiple medals, including three bronzes
• World Junior Championships: Gold in 2008
• Commonwealth Youth Games: Gold in 2008

Career Highlights

• Became the first Indian woman to win the BWF Super Series title in 2009 (Indonesia Open).
• First Indian to reach the final of the World Championships.
• Captained India's team to its first Uber Cup bronze in 2014.
• Achieved the world no. 1 ranking in 2015, becoming the only female Indian player to do so.

Early Life

• Daughter of Harvir Singh Nehwal and Usha Rani Nehwal.
• Took up badminton at age 8 due to her father's transfer to Hyderabad.
• Trained under Pullela Gopichand and also at Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy.

Career Progression

2005-2007

• Won the Asian Satellite tournament at age 15.
• Became under-19 national champion in 2006.
• First Indian woman to win a 4-star tournament at 16 (Philippines Open).

2008

• Won World Junior Championships.
• Reached quarterfinals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

2009

• Won first BWF Super Series title at Indonesia Open.
• Reached quarterfinals in World Championships.

2010

• First Indian woman to reach semi-finals of All England Open.
• Won gold at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
• Achieved world ranking of number 2.

2011

• Reached finals of the BWF Super Series Finals.
• Part of Indian team reaching quarterfinals in Sudirman Cup.

2012

• Won third consecutive Indonesia Open.
• Bronze medalist at London Olympics, becoming the first Indian to win an Olympic medal in badminton.

2013-2014

• Won the India Grand Prix Gold and Australian Open in 2014.
• First Indian to win China Open.

2015

• First Indian woman to reach the finals of the All England Open.
• Won India Open, becoming World No. 1.
• Silver at the World Championships.

2016-2017

• Bronze in Asian Championships, won Australian Open.
• Struggled with injuries but won Malaysia Masters in 2017.

2018

• Gold at the Commonwealth Games in women's singles and mixed team.
• Bronze at the Asian Championships and Asian Games.

2019

• Won Indonesia Masters.

Personal Life and Legacy

• Speaks Haryanvi, fan of Shah Rukh Khan, Mahesh Babu, and Chris Gayle.
• Married Parupalli Kashyap in 2018.
• Joined Bharatiya Janata Party in 2020.
• Philanthropist and awarded various honors including Padma Bhushan and Khel Ratna.
• Plans to open a badminton academy in Haryana.

In Popular Culture

• Autobiography: "Playing to Win: My Life On and Off Court"
• Biopic "Saina" released in 2021 starring Parineeti Chopra.

Endorsements

• Endorsed numerous brands including Yonex, Bharat Petroleum, and more.
• Signed a significant endorsement deal with Rhiti Sports in 2012, later switched to KWAN entertainment.

Awards

• Arjuna Award (2009), Padma Shri (2010), Padma Bhushan (2016)
• Cash awards from various state governments for Olympic achievements.