New Delhi, March 28: Saina Nehwal created history Saturday as she became the first Indian woman shuttler to attain the World No. 1 ranking after her closest challenger for the spot, Spain’s Carolina Marin, lost in the India Open Super Series semifinal here. Saina on her part reached the final.
Though the official rankings will be out Thursday next week, the 25-year-old Indian has been assured of her ascent to the top owing to Marin’s loss.
Prakash Padukone had the distinction of being the No. 1 men’s badminton player but Saina became the first Indian woman to achieve this feat.
The London Olympic bronze-medallist has won a staggering 14 international titles in her glorious career, and most recently she became the first Indian woman to make the final of the prestigious All England Championships in Manchester. The injury-ravaged Saina, admitted that it is ‘tough to maintain rankings’ and she stated that her main aim is to maintain consistency.
“It is tough to be in top-five for the last seven years. I hope to maintain the No. 1 position for some more time. I feel good. At the same time I have to work hard and train every day. It is too tiring but I want to be the top player in the world,” she asserted. PTI
