India's Saina Nehwal .. became the first Indian to win an Olympics medal in the badminton event and only the second Indian woman after Karnam Malleswari's bronze at the 2000 Sydney Olympics to win a medal in an individual Olympic sport.
Saina won the bronze as China's Xin Wang forfeited the match with a knee injury. Wang won the first game 21-18 and was leading the second 1-0
The world number two Wang conceded the bronze medal play off match due to knee injury. She hurt her knee when she landed heavily on her right knee following a jump smash. She had it taped up and went back on court to smash a winner and take the first game but collapsed on the second point of the second game and promptly conceded.
This is India's third medal in the quadrennial event after GAGAN NARANG won the bronze in the 10M Air Rifle event and VIJAY KUMAR clinched the silver medal in the 25 metre rapid fire pistol event. But in Badminton, the Chinese are cut from a different cloth and it shows in their records in all major championships.
Saina .. the first Indian Shuttler to reach the Olympic semi finals, lost to top seed Wang Yihan 13-21, 13-21 at the Wembley Arena.
Though Nehwal's run to the Semi-finals raised a tidal wave of expectations in India but she admitted to suffering an attack of nerves.
Hats off Saina .. First Indian to won Olympic Medal in Badminton.
