Saina Nehwal is back at her best.

The 26 year old is easily India’s biggest medal hope at the Rio Games. Saina is fearless, takes the Chinese shuttlers head on, has the game and the heart to add another medal to the Bronze medal she won at the London Olympics in 2012. Her event badminton, discipline women’s single, which is quite an open competition this time around.

Also Read: Saina Nehwal back to her best

The Chinese top players Li Xuerui, Wang Yihan and Wang Shixian have all looked vulnerable this year. With Ratchanok Intanon mired in a doping controversy, an injury free Saina could go deep into the medal rounds. Young Spanish shuttler Carolina Marin is another player is another big gold medal contender at the Rio.

When Saina won the Australian Open Super series at Sydney earlier this year, it was her maiden title of the season, her second title win in Australia and 10th Super Series title overall. The win now doubt give her confidence for her second consecutive medal prospect at the Rio Games.

Ends her title drought by beating another Chinese opponent to bag her second Australian open title

When Saina Nehwal entered Sydney Sports Centre on Sunday, she knew it was a long time since she had won a title. Saina’s last tournament win came in India Super Series at Delhi in 2015. Even the last time she played in a final was way back in November 2015, where she lost to Li Xuerui in China.

But going to the Australian Open final, Saina Nehwal looked in ominous touch, having overcome her nagging injuries that have proved to be her undoing in earlier tournaments this year.

In the quarterfinals she got the better of world number two and winner of four titles this year, Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon. In the last four, Saina demolished her nemesis China’s Wang Yihan in straight games 21-8, 21-12. She beat Yihan in all department of the game – court movement, deception and power. Over the years these have been the hallmarks of the Chinese game.

Unlike in earlier round matches though, Saina started off slowly in the final against her Chinese opponent Sun Yu – losing the first game 11-21. But she cut down her errors, tightened her net game and hit some powerful smashes to win the next two games 21-14, 21-19.

This was Saina’s maiden title of the season, her second title win in Australian and 10^th Super Series title overall. The win will be a big  a boost for her second consecutive medal prospect at the Rio Games.

There was a lot of fuss when Salman Khan was named India’s Goodwill ambassador of Rio Olympics. The backlash after his appointment made the authorities to also give Abhinav Bindra, Sachin Tendulkar and AR Rahman the Rio Olympics ambassadorship.

Apart from Bindra, who is an Olympic champion, other ambassadors have nothing to do with the Olympic movement. Salman, in an interview, broke his silence on the issue, questioning why others were not questioned when they have very little or nothing to do with the movement.

“After me, who all have been made goodwill ambassadors? Sachin Tendulkar, AR Rahman and Abhinav Bindra, right? But it started off well right? For the media and for everyone else,” Salman said.

“The media should have done the same thing when Sachin and Rahman were roped in. Why didn’t that happen? Why did the media not give them the same kind of coverage they gave me? In their case too, while one isn’t a sportsperson, the other one has only played one sport,” he pointed out.

Aishwarya Rai, Katrina Kaif back Salman on Rio Games Controversy

Salman insisted that every time he becomes a soft target because of a number of court cases that are pending against him. “So, you have issues with one person, who has court cases, becoming the Olympics goodwill ambassador,” he insisted.

Meanwhile, the Bhai of Bollywood made it clear that he is not leaving his ambassadorship, while adding that his intention of getting associated with the Olympic movement is to help athletes. “My intention was that Olympics should get publicity and everyone should know about it,” Salman said.

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Both Aishwarya Rai and Katrina Kaif have stood up for their ex-boyfriend Salman Khan on the recent Rio Olympics controversy. There has been a big backlash to Salman’s appointment as India’s Goodwill Ambassador for the Rio Games. Although Katrina has never been hesitant to mention Salman’s name in public but Aishwarya and Salman have avoided each other ever since their bitter break-up. So the support for Salman coming from Aishwarya’s corner has come as a big surprise.

Although she never directly mentioned Salman’s name in the comment, it was but obvious which way she was tilting on the controversy. “I have to say that anyone who is doing good to represent the country or working or speaking or standing for the betterment of art, music or sports, is wonderful and the person needs to be recognised,” said Aishwarya, keeping herself as neutral as possible.

Several sporting icons like Olympic bronze medallist wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt and legendary athlete Milkha Singh have objected to the idea that Olympics needed a Bollywood actor’s endorsement.

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