Saina Nehwal presents her racquet to PM Modi

World number one shuttler Saina Nehwal on Wednesday presented her racquet, with which she became the first Indian to win a silver medal at the Badminton World Championships, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an advanced birthday present.

Modi will turn 65 on Thursday.

The 25-year-old Saina was delighted to have met the Prime Minister.

“I am pleased to meet honourable Prime Minister and wished him Happy birthday in advance. I am happy to present him a racket for his birthday. It’s really good to know that he follows every sport regularly and also <g data-gr-id="22">interesting</g> thing is he spoke to me about my matches. He also congratulated me for my World Championship medal,” Saina said after the meeting.

Saina was accompanied by her father Harvir Nehwal and Neerav Tomar, MD & CEO of IOS Sports & Entertainment, which manages the <g data-gr-id="19">shuttler</g>.

The poster girl of Indian badminton, Saina has been an achiever of many firsts in her glorious badminton career.

She had lost to Spain’s Carolina Marin in the title clash of World Championships in Jakarta last month but still became the first Indian to win a silver medal in the prestigious tournament.