New Delhi: After V. Anand, P. Advani, Mary Kom, who in India Sport? It could be 21 year old badminton star Saina Nehwal of Hyderabad. In between, Sachin Tendulkar, Vijay Kumar (boxer) and others may squeeze in.
But Saina took the gold in Commonwealth Games and put India above England with the 37th gold and crossing 100 medals on the whole, to reach 101 recently. Her commercial value on each brand ambassadorship has increased from Rs.50 lakhs to Rs. One crore, with Telecom giant, Airtel, joining the queue of her admirers.
Several corporate bodies are in the line, seeking her attention to boost the sales of their products on contractual basis.
There is another girl in Hyderbad who is seeking recognition in the Asian Games in China this year, along with Saina and she is Sania Mirza Malik, a Tennis player. Both (along with Pullela Gopichand, the Badminton coach of Saina) are ambassadors of Andhra Tourism department.
While Saina is just beginning to lend her name and fame to various companies, Sania has already done it for Alukkas gold Jewellery sellers.