Saina first Indian woman shuttler to be World No. 1

NEW DELHI: Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal was on Saturday assured of the top spot in world rankings — the first Indian woman to achieve the feat — after her closest competitor, Spain’s Carolina Marin, lost in the Yonex Sunrise India Super Series semi-final.

As congratulations poured in, Saina, who beat Japan’s Yui Hashimoto in the second semifinal on Saturday, asked fans to wait for April 2 when the official rankings will be issued.

“I can’t still believe it… All this will probably sink in when I see my name on the list. I need to see it first to believe it,” the 25- year- old said after reaching the final. She thrashed Hashimoto 21-15, 21-11 in a match that lasted for 43 minutes to set up a title clash with former world champion, Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon.

“Before the tournament my focus was to reach the final. It’s an unbelievable feeling. It was one of my dreams… Prakash ( Padukone) sir and Vimal ( Kumar) sir helped me so much with inputs and their experiences. They both helped me get out off the lull I was stuck in,” the Olympic bronze medalist said. She currently trains at Padukone’s academy in Bangalore under Kumar.

Padukone was unofficially the world number one when he won the Danish Open, Swedish Open and the All England in 1980.

Congratulatory messages poured in from all, including President Pranab Mukherjee and PM Narendra Modi.

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