Saina Nehwal turns 30: Candid photos with her husband, parents and buddies

A former world no. 1, Saina Nehwal has won over 23 international titles, which include ten Superseries titles.

Although Saina Nehwal reached the world's 2nd rank in 2009, it was only in 2015 that she was able to attain the world no. 1 ranking, thereby becoming the only female player from India and overall the second Indian player – after Prakash Padukone – to achieve this feat. 

For almost a year, there were rumours of Saina Nehwal dating fellow-badminton player Parupalli Kashyap.

Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap tied the knot in a private ceremony on December 14, 2018.

Saina Nehwal has represented India three times in the Olympics, winning a bronze medal in her second appearance.

Saina Nehwal, the second daughter of Dr. Harvir Singh Nehwal and Usha Rani Nehwal, was born in Hisar. She has only one sibling, an elder sister named Chandranshu Nehwal. 

Saina Nehwal father, who has a PhD in agricultural science, worked at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University. 

Saina Nehwal completed her first few years of schooling at Campus School CCS HAU, Hisar. She did her Xll from St. Ann's College for Women at Mehdipatnam in Hyderabad.

When Saina Nehwal's father was promoted and transferred from Haryana to Hyderabad, she took up badminton at the age of eight, to express herself as she did not know the local language to socialise with other kids. 

Saina Nehwal's parents played badminton for a number of years. Her mother, Usha Rani, was a state-level badminton player in Haryana.

Saina Nehwal took up badminton to fulfill her mother's dream of becoming a national level badminton player, while her sister played volleyball. Saina Nehwal's father, who was among the top players in the university circuit, used his provident fund to invest in good badminton training for her. 

Not many know this fact, but Saina Nehwal Nehwal also has a brown belt in karate.

Saina Nehwal has won two medals - silver and bronze at World Championships.

Saina Nehwal has won three gold medals at the Commonwealth Games. She also has a silver and bronze medal each at CWG.

Saina Nehwal has two bronze medals at the Uber Cup

At the Asian Games, Saina Nehwal has won two bronze medals and at the Asian Championships, she has won three. bronze medals

In picture: Saina Nehwal seen sporting a different hairdo in this one and boy does she look good!

In picture: Saina Nehwal makes her desi avatar look hip

In picture: Saina Nehwal and her husband Parupalli Kashyap and Gurusai Dutt

In picture: Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap and Gurusai Dutt

In picture: Saina Nehwal with fellow Indian shuttler Sai Praneeth

In picture: Saina Nehwal with Parupalli Kashyap and Gurusai Dutt on Kashyap's birthday

In picture: Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap with Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas

In picture: Awesome trio! Saina Nehwal with Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh

In picture: Saina Nehwal with Akshay Kumar

In picture: Saina Nehwal with Parineeti Chopra. The latter will be playing Saina in her biopic

In picture:  Saina Nehwal with Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan

The Big Pic: Saina Nehwal poses with Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan during a television show

Saina Nehwal seems to be getting her adrenaline rush on here. Badminton may just not be her only favoured sport

In picture: Saina Nehwal and her many moods

In picture: Saina Nehwal with her pet dog 'Chopsy'

Here's wishing India's badminton queen Saina Nehwal a Happy 30th Birthday!