Date:09/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/09/stories/2008120960821700.htm

Sport - Badminton

BWF’s accolade for Saina Nehwal

New Delhi: After breaking into the list of World’s top 10 players, Saina Nehwal became the first Indian woman shuttler to be named as the most promising player of the year by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

The decision was taken during the council meeting of the BWF in Seoul recently, a statement from the BWF Vice-President, V.K. Verma, said here on Monday.

The 18-year-old Saina’s name was proposed along with three other players by the World Badminton Players Federation.

Saina has had an incredible run this year, becoming the first Indian woman to win the Chinese Taipei Open, apart from winning the World junior and Commonwealth Youth Games gold medal in Pune.

She also reached the quarterfinals in the Beijing Olympics earlier this year.

Elated at being bestowed with the honour, Saina said, “I am very excited and happy to get this honour.

I never expected such an award but now that I have got it, it has motivated me a lot and given me a big boost.

“I just want to work even harder and get more results,” she added. — PTI