How Saina Nehwal made India fall in love with badminton again

Saina Nehwal is one of the most celebrated badminton players in India. The former World No 1 has won over 24 international titles, including 11 Superseries. Nehwal clinched the World No 2 spot in 2009 and in 2015 she reached the milestone after becoming the first Indian women to bag the No 1 title in badminton and only the second Indian after Prakash Padukone. Nehwal has represented India thrice at the Olympic Games. She has a bronze medal to her name in the London Olympics.

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Saina Nehwal's Achievements 

Nehwal bagged silver at the Commonwealth Youth Games which was held in 2004. Nehwal won the silver medal in girls' singles of the World Junior Championships in 2006. She triumphed in 2006 Commonwealth Games with a bronze medal. The shuttler then accomplished gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2006 which was held in Pune.

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Nehwal made India proud in 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi with women's singles gold and a silver medal in the Mixed Team event. The wristy shuttler made history at the 2012 London Olympics by claiming bronze, thus becoming the first Indian to win an Olympic medal in badminton. The Indian women team which was led by Nehwal bagged the Bronze at the 2014 Asian Games. In 2015, Nehwal won the silver medal in World Championships which was held in Jakarta.

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Nehwal is the only Indian to win at least one medal in each BWF major individual event, the BWF World Junior Championships, BWF World Championships and the Olympics. In 2006, she became the under-19 national champion and made history by winning the famed Asian Satellite Badminton tournament (India Chapter) twice and became the first player to do so. At age 16, Nehwal became the first Indian woman and the youngest player from Asia to win a 4-star tournament at the Philippines Open in 2006. The 29-year-old shuttler also has a long list of Superseries titles to her name. 

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