New Delhi (PTI): After breaking into the elite zone of top 10 players, ace shuttler Saina Nehwal on Monday became the first Indian woman shuttler to be named as the most promising player of the year by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
The decision was taken in the council meeting of the BWF in Seoul on December 6, according to a statement issued by BWF Vice-President V K Verma here on Monday.
The 18-year-old Saina's name was proposed along with three other players by the World badminton players federation.
Saina has had an incredible run this year, becoming the first woman shuttler to win the Chinese Taipei Open, apart from winning the World Junior Badminton and Commonwealth Youth Games gold medal in Pune.
She also reached the quarterfinals in the Beijing Olympics earlier this year.
Elated at being bestowed with the honour, Saina said, "I am very excited and happy to get this honour. I never expected such an award but now that I have got it, it has motivated me a lot and given me a big boost.
"I just want to work even harder now and get more results," she added.