Saina Nehwal
In what was then the biggest moment in Indian badminton and a point that spurred a change for the sport, Saina Nehwal won Bronze at the 2012 London Olympics.
Saina etched her name in Indian sporting history as she became the first ever shuttler to get on the podium at the Olympics and the second Indian woman at that point of time to return a medal from the Olympics.
Nehwal came into the Games as the lone medal hope for India. With such pressure on her shoulders she ensured she didn’t disappoint the nation and secured a Bronze medal.
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In her Bronze medal match, she was pitted against China's Xin Wang, who had to retire hurt after having hurt her ankle, handing Saina her maiden Olympic medal and a moment for India to cherish.
Throughout her campaign, the Indian shuttler did not just show a glimpe of her badminton prowess but also displayed a strong mind and never say die attitude, refusing to give up even in the worst of situations.
In hindsight, probably this was the moment that brought a lot more shuttlers on the court and a belief among them that they could take on the best in the world.
