She is arguably one of the best badminton players in India. She began playing badminton at a tender age of 8 and her biography tells us that she traveled close to 50 km each day to practice the game and polish her skills. Genes for the game flow in her blood as both her parents were former state badminton champions.
When she won the under-19 title in the National Badminton Championship back in 2006, nobody knew she would become this big a name in a couple of years. That same year, in 2006, she went on to win the Philippines Open and marked her presence in the global badminton scene. A Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award winner, she is the woman who became the face of Indian badminton and most recently, the face of Indian sports. She is reason that the world now knows India for a game other than cricket. On her recent victory in the China Super Series on Sunday, we look back at the current World Number 5’s achievements that make us realize that she truly is 'the future of Indian Badminton'.
Year | Event | Result |
2004 | National Junior Championship | Winner |
2005 | National Senior Championship | Runner-up |
2006 | National Senior Championship | Winner |
2007 | National Senior Championship | Winner |
2007 | National Games | Winner |
2008 | Singapore Super Series | Semi-finalist |
2008 | China Masters Super Series | Semi-finalist |
2008 | BWF Super Series Masters Final | Semi-finalist |
2009 | Indonesia Super Series Premier | Winner |
2009 | India Open Grand Prix Gold | Winner |
2010 | Indonesia Super Series Premier | Winner |
2010 | Singapore Super Series | Winner |
2010 | All England Super Series Premier | Semi-finalist |
2010 | Hong Kong Super Series | Winner |
2010 | India Open Grand Prix Gold | Winner |
2011 | Japan Open Super Series | Semi-finalist |
2011 | Indonesia Super Series Premier | Runner up |
2011 | BWF Super Series Masters Finals | Runner up |
2011 | Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold | Runner up |
2011 | Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold | Winner |
2012 | Indonesia Super Series Premier | Winner |
2012 | Malaysia Open Super Series Premier | Semi-finalist |
2012 | Denmark Open Super Series Premier | Winner |
2012 | French Super Series | Runner up |
2012 | BWF Super Series Masters Finals | Semi-finalist |
2012 | Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold | Winner |
2012 | Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold | Winner |
2012 | Summer Olympics, London | Semi-finalist |
2013 | Malaysia Open Super Series Premier | Semi-finalist |
2013 | All England Super Series Premier | Semi-fnalist |
2013 | Indonesia Super Series Premier | Semi-finalist |
2013 | Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold | Semi-finalist |
2014 | Australian Open | Winner |
2014 | India Open Grand Prix Gold | Winner |
2014 | China Open Super Series Premier | Winner |
The year-end World Rankings are yet to be disclosed and we hope that Saina breaks into the top-3 again! Way to go Saina! Make India proud.