Olympic medal a reflection of Saina’s growing stature

Saina Nehwal has finally answered the prayers of millions of Indians by getting a bronze medal in the 2012 London Olympics.

The long journey began way back in 1999 when the young shuttler walked into the Fateh Maidan Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad to attend the summer coaching camp.

Ever since she won her first big title at a State-level tournament when she was 14, her evolution has been near-perfect.

By her own confession, there were never really any major hurdles from the start till now. Initially, the 22-year-old champion, born in Haryana but brought up in Hyderabad, was lucky, for she was under the tutelage of Dronacharya S.M. Arif who smoothed out the rough edges.

She later shifted her training base to the Pullela Gopi Chand Academy in Gachibowli.

Careful selection of big events and the scientific training Gopi Chand devised were the keys to Saina’s success and her current world No. 4 ranking. The Indian shuttler has often expressed her disappointment at missing out what many girls of her age group enjoy in life.

Truly, Saina Nehwal stands tall in the world of badminton and the Olympic bronze is just a reflection of her growing stature.