IBNLive : Move over Sania, Saina is here

Move over Sania, Saina is here
P Revathi, CNN-IBN, Tuesday , May 30, 2006



There is a new teenage sporting sensation in Indian sports. Move over Sania Mirza as now it is the turn of another Hyderabadi girl to make the headlines.

Saina Nehwal has became the first Indian woman to win a 4-star badminton tournament and her parents Usha and Harvir Singh Nehwal are on cloud nine.

After all their 16-year-old daughter has done what no Indian has done till now.

Saina's win in the Philippines Open saw her parents, both of whom are former badminton players, celebrating.

And now they proudly show off the medals and trophies that their daughter has won till date.

"Saina was was a very different kind of child. At the age of seven-eight months we were worried about her because she was very serious and would never smile. One day, I took her to the badminton court and when she saw a game, she started laughing," her father Harivir Singh says.

Saina's talent was noticed when she was just nine and former all England champion P Gopichand took her under his wing when she was 13.

"I think her achievement is phenomenal because no Indian woman has done it so far. Also to do so when she is just 16 is great. She has got many tournaments to play in future. It is remarkable not only for her but also for Indian badminton," Gopichand says.

Saina's game is simple as she relies on power to subdue her opponents.

It was on display at the 2006 Commonwealth Games when she was part of the team which won the team bronze.

And now her parents want her to go for the biggest prize of them all.

"Determination accha hai uska. Mehnati bhi hai. Woh accha Olympian banegi aur jeetegi (She is very determined and works hard. I want her to win a medal in the Olympics)," her mother Usha Nehwal adds.

At 16 Saina's best is yet to come. She celebrated her birthday just 10 days back and her parents could not have asked for a better gift from her.

Read more at : IBNLive : Move over Sania, Saina is here