Name: Saina Nehwal

Event: Badminton

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CWG experience: Two badminton Gold

Biggest professional achievement: Bronze medal at London Olympics, 2012.

Saina Nehwal in the finale of any major event (Commonwealth Games, World Championships, Superseries events and World Tour 500 and above events): Total- 25, Lost- 7, Win- 18

PV Sindhu’s record in final: Total-9, win-3, loss-6.

India’s most celebrated shuttler Saina Nehwal wrote history today by winning the thrilling women’s single match against Olympic silver medalist PV Sindhu in the finale of women’s singles badminton event at Commonwealth Games 2018, Gold Coast in Australia on Sunday.

With the win, Nehwal had become first Indian shuttler to win two single golds at CWG. Saina had won her first title in CWG 2010 in New Delhi.

On Sunday, Saina beat Sindhu in two straight sets 21-18, 23-21. Saina had also remained unbeaten throughout in the tournament.

Saina was dominating from the beginning taking a lead of 11-6 over Sindhu. In the thrilling match, viewers witnessed how Saina made Sindhu move all around the court, frequently making her lunge forward after pushing her deep.

Saina had given a miss to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where current World Number 3 P V Sindhu had won the bronze medal.

Though Saina had been troubled by injuries for the last two years, she looked hungry in the women’s singles final, set to become the first Indian to win two singles golds in badminton at the quadrennial event.

Playing her 11th match in the last 11 days, Saina showed no signs of fatigue. If anything, in fact, her movement was way better than it has been at any time in 2018.

In the opening game, when Saina just needed the game point for winning the first set, Sindhu fought back and won four shots before Saina eventually won the opening game.

In the second game, Sindhu started aggressively and it paid off as she was leading the set with three points at 11-8. But Saina was the one dictating the game even then, making it hard for Sindhu to score points.

Saina bounced back soon and seized control again. The turning point of the game came when Saina won the really long and thrilling rally against Sindhu while trailing two points behind 17-19. After that Sindhu started showing subline defence, though she had no answer to Saina’s attack.