Playing To Win

Saina Nehwal was twenty-two when she won an Olympic medal for India, and at the time she was ranked fourth in the world in badminton. She is also a Padma Shri and Khel Ratna awardee. In Playing To Win she tells her own story, starting with her childhood and the years of growing up, and moving through a career that began with district-level wins and reached the Olympic podium. For her, playing for India means playing for her parents, her coach and her country.

The memoir looks closely at the people who matter most to her and at what it costs to succeed in any sport. Along the way she shares little-known facts about herself and shows the different sides of her life: daughter, sister, student, and an ordinary girl behind the badminton prodigy.

There is also a picture of her everyday routine. Her days are built around hard training and a strict diet, with no parties or sleepovers. Still, there is room for fun, since she loves shopping, eats ice cream only after a win, and plays games on her iPad.

The book includes candid photographs and badminton tips from Saina herself, showing how a champion is made in her own words.