Saina Nehwal, the first Indian woman shuttler to achieve the World No. 1 ranking and Olympics bronze medalist joined the BJP on Wednesday, just days ahead of the assembly elections in Delhi.
Saina Nehwal stated “Today I have joined a party that has done a lot for the country. I hope to do a lot of good work,” said Nehwal.
She has joined BJP as she is inspired by Mr. Narendra Modi and his hard work. “I am a hard-working person and like hard-working people. Narendra Modi sir has been working day and night for the country.
If I can do something for the country with him, it will be my good fortune. I draw a lot of inspiration from Modi sir. He inspires me,” she said.
Saina added that she would continue to play badminton and will work for the BJP simultaneously. She is preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, so the timing of her political debut has raised eyebrows.
Her entry into politics has raised many eyebrows as it’s high time that she concentrates for 2020 Olympics but it seems that BJP was very keen to take her on board at the earliest because they desire to bring the youth back from the CAA protests.
She is one of the most popular sports persons in India with a huge fan following and brand value. Saina is the latest sportsperson who has joined the BJP after the likes of cricketer Gautam Gambhir, who won the Lok Sabha polls last year, and wrestler Babita Phogat, who lost in the Haryana Assembly polls. Saina’s elder sister Chandranshu Nehwal, has also joined the BJP.
A former world number 1, she has been honored with the country’s top sporting awards like the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award.
She has both Olympics and Commonwealth Games medals under her belt, The Badminton player has won over 24 international titles.
In the London Olympics, she won a bronze. She was world number two in 2009 and number one in 2015, has praised government’s Khelo India program run by the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs.
With her tweets praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Saina Nehwal was widely seen to lean towards the BJP. Her inclusion in the party is made to deploy her in the election campaign, so that she is presented as youth icon to the youngsters.
ALSO READ: Prashant Kishor likely to Join Congress?
