India’s ace woman shuttler Saina Nehwal is ‘delighted’ at achieving what her scientist-father Harvir Singh could not by becoming the ‘Ambassador of Goodwill’ for the International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) on Monday.
“Unlike many parents who see to it that their kids pursue academics to be an engineer or a doctor, my dad let me focus on badminton and in the process, sacrificed his own career for want of time. He could have easily become the Ambassador for this institute had he thought about himself,” remarked Saina.
“Becoming ICRISAT ambassador along with M.S. Swaminathan Sir is all the more special. I feel like a kid and obviously poor knowledge-wise. I feel humbled by his astounding achievements,” she explained.
“I also work really hard for the country, like farmers, to win laurels. And I will try my best to popularise ICRISAT across the world whenever I find time,” the 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist said. “As an athlete, I can surely enlighten people on the importance of a nutritious diet and also the importance of not wasting food,” Saina pointed out!