Ace Nehwal!

Whenever we speak to any sports personality it is usually about their sports and the amount of hard work they have put into it. The readers would be well aware that most such interviews consist of the same Q&A. But here @ SOUL we try to bring the different aspects of a known personality where we speak to them about their other side, i.e. their fun side, and what are their likes and dislikes just like any of us.

Today we speak to Saina Nehwal, who really doesn’t need any introduction. Saina took the badminton circuit by storm when she became the first Indian woman to win the World Junior Badminton Championships in 2008, which was held in Pune. Among many other accolades and achievements, Nehwal has also been conferred with Arjuna Award in 2009, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2009-2010 and Padma Shri award in 2010.

Let’s see how Ms. Nehwal spends her time when not on the badminton court.

SOUL: You are the reigning queen of the Indian Badminton Circuit. Any other sport other than badminton that interests you or you’d love to try your hands on?

SN: I am a badminton player, I love other sports but I never tried my hand on any of them. As child I use to like races (any form), cricket, and swimming but that was then and this is now. Badminton is something I breathe and sleep. Apart from it, I play Tennis as a TV game with full dedication and I try my level best to defeat as many players as I can who are in the game.

SOUL: S-A-I-N-A Nehwal and S-A-N-I-A Mirza, both of you have the same alphabets in your first names and both belong from Hyderabad and both of you have become the face of your respective sports in India (especially for the women). What do you think of it?

SN: It is rarest of rare combination, that we are from the same city, the name has equal letters and both became world ranked one in our respective games. God is great as per my conviction.

SOUL: While Sania Mirza has been spotted walking down the ramp for famous designers quite often, not much has been seen of you. Does this mean that you are not too much into fashion and glamour?

SN: No, it doesn’t mean that I am not much into fashion and glamour. I just am not bothered by it. I believe in ‘apna apna bhagya’ -own destiny, so I guess we both are doing what is written in our fortunes.

SOUL: What’s fashion according to you?

SN: Fashion as per me is to look fresh. Whatever one don’s should complement his or her looks and should be pleasing to everybody’s eyes. Clothes are something which defines your personality and should denote that they are made for you.

SOUL: Any particular designer that you like?

SN: As I said, I enjoy fashion but I don’t live and breathe fashion. I am the brand ambassador for Kaira Brand which specializes in exclusive Indian Ethnic, Western & Indo-Western wear.

SOUL: Parfum Préféré?

SN: I don’t have any particular favorites. As long as they smell good I like all the brands. Also when it comes to brands I perpetually keep on forgetting their names so it’s my mother who takes care of it for me.

SOUL: You live with your family in your family home. Any area of the house that has a signature touches of you?

SN: Every bit of my house has my signature touches. I am all over the house whenever I am in the city and try my best to use all the nooks and corner of my home. My habitat is like a sanctuary for me and you can see my choices all over the house. I am usually found relaxing on my bed, or sofa or watching the programs being played on the television.

SOUL: Being a sports person you have to be quite a fitness junkie when it comes to training regime. Any guilty pleasures that you like to indulge in?

SN: No, my food is well prepared for me. But I have to admit that I am a terrible cook. If asked I cannot even make a cuppa tea. It is my mother who takes care of my meals and if I am travelling my lodging takes care of it.

SOUL: What’s a normal day like, for you, when you are not training or practicing?

SN: I am training for all the 6 days of a week. On leisure day I sleep, eat well and may see one of my favorite movies.

SOUL: Last but not the least, is there a Mr. Saina Nehwal somewhere around?

SN: I don’t know about Mr. Saina Nehwal (if he is anywhere around) but I do know that every household has a Saina Nehwal who is waiting (her potential) to be recognized by her family.

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