Saina Nehwal

“I do not fear anybody on the field or in society, but I fear at night when I am away from my parents. I am scared of the unknown described in horror movies.”

“Yes, my mom does keep making references to marriage, like all mothers do, but it's only in a lighter mood... she just jokes.”

“Badminton is not a popular sport in India.”

“When I was a kid, my parents would play badminton, but I hardly joined them. I'd just pick up their racquets and fiddle around. Check out how the racquet was made... toss it around to see how light it was! At the time, I didn't even know I'd play badminton.”

“I am a human being. When you are frustrated, you do cry. It's more than once that I cried.”

“All sports should get support from the government and corporate bodies.”

“After I win a match, I celebrate it by having an ice cream.”

“How well you eat and rest helps you analyse your energy reserves.”

“I enjoy three meals a day, and 90 per cent of what I eat is vegetarian and homemade. I occasionally eat non-vegetarian, and chicken preparations are my favourite.”

“I'm a normal girl. I don't go out much, and I don't know what is enjoyment.”

“My schedule is too overwhelmingly full to think about the future.”

“My hero is Roger Federer.”

“Both my parents were amateur badminton players. My father is a scientist and wanted me to be a doctor. But my mom was very aggressive and loved badminton. She pushed me right from the age of nine to take up the sport.”

“I think studies are really important and shouldn't be compromised.”

“I was really surprised when I was told that my grandmother did not come to see me till a month after my birth. I was born seven years after my only sister Chandranshu, and my birth was a big disappointment for her.”

“At nine, my mom used to tell me she saw an Olympic medalist in me. I used to take it as a joke, but she was very serious.”