10 Indian athletes whose greatest achievements need to be highlighted

While the entire nation celebrated Raksha Bandhan yesterday, the fact that August 29th is also our National Sports Day seems to have been unfortunately relegated to the backseat. However, with many astounding feats over the past years, India’s athletes deserve to get their due especially on this day.Here are India’s top 10 athletes whose achievements need to be highlighted just after this occasion.

#10 Saina Nehwal

No mention of contemporary Indian sportspersons and their achievements is complete without the name of this young gun from Hyderabad. Saina Nehwal made India proud when she recently regained her World No 1 ranking in the Badminton World Federation Womens Singles list, something only one other Indian player had managed earlier (Prakash Padukone).

Her biggest achievements include a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, winning the Indonesia Open in 2009 and bagging the World Junior Badminton Championship title. Recently she won the 2015 India Open Grand Prix and bagged the silver at the World Badminton Championships in Jakarta, becoming the first Indian women to achieve the latter.

Nehwal is known as one among the few key players from across the globe who managed to successfully break the Chinese monopoly over this sport and continues to be an inspiration for young girls everywhere. She has been awarded the Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri for her contribution to sports.