DELHI : Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal has been nominated for the Woman Player of the Year Award of the Badminton World Federation after a consistent season which saw her occupy the world number one spot for a brief period. Saina, currently ranked number two, is nominated along with world number one Carolina Marin of Spain, 2014 winner Zhao Yunlei of China and another Chinese Bao Yixin.
The winners of the BWF Players of the Year Awards will be announced at the Players’ Reception and Gala Dinner for the Dubai World Superseries Finals on December 7 at Al Badia Golf Club in Dubai.
Saina became India’s first world number one in women’s singles and enjoyed a consistent run this season, winning her home leg of the BWF World Superseries tour in Delhi and also reaching the finals of the BWF World Championships, the All England and the Thaihot China Open.
Marin started and ended the year on a perfect note — winning the All England Championship in March and the Hong Kong Open in November. In between, she picked up three other Super Series titles and retained the World Championship title.
In the Male Player of the Year category, world number one Chen Long of China — who won the title last season — has been nominated alongside his doubles-playing compatriot, Zhang Nan, and Korea’s exciting duo of Lee Yong Dae and Yoo Yeon Seong.
In a historic first, there are three nominees each for the Male Para-Badminton Player of the Year and the Female Para-Badminton Player of the Year.