New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi today congratulated Saina Nehwal for the becoming the first Indian woman shuttler to attain the world number one ranking in badminton, and wished her more success in future.
"Congrats Saina Nehwal on becoming World no 1 in Badminton; well deserved honour; best wishes for Indian Open Semi Final," Mukherjee wrote on his twitter handle.
PM Modi wrote, "The phenomenal accomplishments of @NSaina make us very proud. I congratulate her on being the World Number 1."
Saina scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman shuttler to reach the number one spot in world rankings, reaffirming her status as the country's most consistent performer in the international circuit.
The 25-year-old, who has reached the final of the ongoing India Open Super Series here, zoomed to the top after her closest challenger for the position, Spain's Carolina Marin, lost in the semifinal.
Though the official rankings will be out only on Thursday next week, Saina was assured of her ascent to the top owing to the reigning world champion's 19-21 23-21 20-22 loss to third seed Thai Ratchanok Intanon.
Saina thus becomes only the second Indian overall to be world number one after Prakash Padukone had the distinction of being the numero uno men's badminton player.
