Saina Nehwal Appointed In International Olympic Committee’s Athlete’s Commission

Indian badminton star Saina Nehwal has been appointed as a member of International Olympic Committee’s Athlete’s Commission. It is a rare honour for any Indian sportsperson.

Nehwal is the first Indian Olympian ever to be nominated on IOC athlete commission. She received a letter on Monday evening by IOC President Thomas Bach, and it stated: “Following your candidature for the elections of the IOC Athletes’ Commission during the Olympic Games Rio 2016, it is with great pleasure to appoint you in consultation with the Chair, as Member of the Athletes’ Commission”.

Nita Ambani is the first Indian female member of the committee and soon be joined by Saina Nehwal at the next meeting of the commission which is scheduled for November 6.

Saina is set to resume her practice session, following her recovery from a knee injury. It was an intra-articular injury (inside the joint) on her right knee, it was also one of the reasons why she failed to perform in the Rio Olympics this year, as per her father Harvir Singh. In an interview last month, she stated that she hopes to play in the November tournament if everything goes fine till then. In such time, this appointment in the prestigious panel has been no less than a gift for Nehwal.

This badminton star has some of the most prestigious awards under her name like Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, Arjuna Award, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna along with Bronze in 2012 London Olympics and Gold in 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games.

18 October 2016
Jyotsna Amla