Saina Nehwal picked for IOC Athletes’ Comission

In a piece of good news for badminton, and India, and Saina Nehwal, the former Olympic bronze medallist has been chosen as one of the for athletes personally picked by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach to serve on the IOC Athletes’ Commission, as reported in a BWF press release today.

Saina will be India’s first athlete in this commission and welcomes the news gladly: “I feel honoured and happy to be appointed to the IOC Athletes’ Commission, especially as the first athlete from my country to have this distinction of representing athletes worldwide.”

Saina benefits from wide confidence from her peers in badminton as well as athletes from other sports and should be a great ambassador for the sport within the Olympic Family. Before her, Pedro Yang from Guatemala had been part of this Commission and had some amazing experiences.  Outside of the Athletes’ Commission, badminton is already represented on the IOC membership by BWF President Poul-Erik Hoyer, former President Craig Reedie, and Council member Li Lingwei.

Injured during the Olympics, former world #1 Nehwal is still recovering and hoping to be back on track for the last legs of the BWF World Superseries tournaments, in China and Hong Kong next month.

Photo: Badmintonphoto