Saina Nehwal: Ace Shuttler Aims to Grab 'Golden' Chance at Rio

One of India's most successful sporting stars in India in recent years, Saina Nehwal has come a long way from the young prospect who narrowly missed out on a medal at the 2008 Olympics.

A hard toiler on the court, Nehwal went on to clinch a bronze medal in London four years back, and after dominant showings in the last couple of years, will be aiming for the gold at the 2016 Rio Games.

While winning a medal in London was celebrated back home in success-starved India, her rise to the top of the world singles rankings in April last year was no less significant.

It marked the first time a non-Chinese shuttler sat atop the women's singles rankings since Dane Tine Baun in late 2010.

Nehwal, who will be 30 by the time the 2020 Olympics come around in Tokyo, may have the best shot at winning an Olympic gold this term. Rio will mark a third Olympics for Nehwal, who is hitting a rich vein of form at exactly the right time.

Her second Australian Open title win this year saw her beat world champions Ratchanok Intanon (2013) and Wang Yihan (2011), before overpowering China's Sun Yu in the final in Sydney.

It was a welcome win for Nehwal, who had failed to reach a World Super Series final since last November in China and was returning from an Achilles injury she sustained at the end of last year.

The focus will now shift to Rio, where Saina Nehwal will hope to spark celebrations in India with a gold medal.