2005.
“But I had never disclosed to Saina my financial difficulties fearing that she might get disturbed knowing that her father was left with no savings for the future,” mentioned Dr. Harvir Singh.
So, did Saina get any help from the sports authorities?
According to Dr. Singh, till the year 2003, Saina got 600 INR per month from the Sports Authority of India (SAI). The amount was raised to 2,500 INR in June, 2003. However, the amount didn’t help much. It was still very tough to manage expenses.
Apart from the training cost, Dr. Singh had to manage hefty telephone bills that put extra financial burden on the family when Saina started touring foreign countries for events.
The media also added to this financial burden. Her phone kept ringing wherever she went.
Once, Dr. Harvir Singh confessed, “A major part of the prize money that Saina got from big competitions like the Philippines Open and World Junior Championship was utilised in paying her mobile bills, which were between Rs 40,000 and Rs 50,000 in the touring months.”
Saina once admitted that she was too lazy to acquire a local SIM card in a foreign land and would keep calling home to chat with her parents. There would also be calls from the media.
Did the prize money help Saina in the initial stages of her career?
Saina with her father
Dr. Harvir Singh Nehwal
As per a statement made by Dr. Harvir Singh, Saina was given just Rs 300 as prize money after winning the under-10 state level competition. The competition was held in Tirupati in the year1999. He said that the period between 1999 and 2004 was very challenging for the family because they did not get any sponsorship.
Dr. Harvir Singh was not only concerned about the financial burden but also the risk of lagging behind on the educational front. This added to the mental pressure the family had to go through.
Saina had to skip examinations twice. She was unable to take her first year intermediate exams due to the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Later, she could not write supplementary exams due to her presence in the Philippines.
Saina had achieved huge success much early in her life. Ironically, the family, despite her big success at the international level, has not been able to celebrate much.
Dr. Harvir Singh confessed that Saina had never been to any party, any restaurant or cinema for about 7 consecutive years in her life. Once, the electronic media personnel visited my home.
“I could not even offer them sweets. Do I need to explain why?” said Dr. Harvir Singh.
What’s the key to Saina’s success?
Saina Nehwal with her Family
She had a goal set in her mind and knew she had to achieve it anyhow. It is important to stick to one goal. Choosing two of them is dangerous. It is similar to chasing two rabbits. Both will escape. If you know the goal clearly, success will be yours. People with clear goals are usually successful as they know where they are going.
Saina’s rigorous training schedules were challenging for her parents too!
While Saina Nehwal was fast becoming a known name in India’s junior badminton circuit, the everyday routine of taking her for practice was quite strenuous for her parents. It was a about 25 km ride on the scooter from Rajendra Nagar to the stadium and Saina had to be there very early. This meant the child had to be up at four in the morning.
In March 2000, the family purchased a Maruti 800 car only for Saina. ‘Maruti’ is another name for Hanuman, the Monkey God, who is a symbol of strength and positive energy. Buying this car was synonymous for Saina’s steady success.
Even as Saina was steadily climbing up in the game, Harvir’s bank balance was diminishing. He rates the time between the years 1999 and 2004 as the toughest period of his life.
Dr. singh said, “I drew money from my provident fund some six times, mostly citing my wife’s illness as the reason. Everyone in the office, of course, knew what the real reason was. Sometimes, Rs 50,000,
“But I had never disclosed to Saina my financial difficulties fearing that she might get disturbed knowing that her father was left with no savings for the future,” mentioned Dr. Harvir Singh.
So, did Saina get any help from the sports authorities?
According to Dr. Singh, till the year 2003, Saina got 600 INR per month from the Sports Authority of India (SAI). The amount was raised to 2,500 INR in June, 2003. However, the amount didn’t help much. It was still very tough to manage expenses.
Apart from the training cost, Dr. Singh had to manage hefty telephone bills that put extra financial burden on the family when Saina started touring foreign countries for events.
The media also added to this financial burden. Her phone kept ringing wherever she went.
Once, Dr. Harvir Singh confessed, “A major part of the prize money that Saina got from big competitions like the Philippines Open and World Junior Championship was utilised in paying her mobile bills, which were between Rs 40,000 and Rs 50,000 in the touring months.”
Saina once admitted that she was too lazy to acquire a local SIM card in a foreign land and would keep calling home to chat with her parents. There would also be calls from the media.
Did the prize money help Saina in the initial stages of her career?
Saina with her father
Dr. Harvir Singh Nehwal
As per a statement made by Dr. Harvir Singh, Saina was given just Rs 300 as prize money after winning the under-10 state level competition. The competition was held in Tirupati in the year1999. He said that the period between 1999 and 2004 was very challenging for the family because they did not get any sponsorship.
Dr. Harvir Singh was not only concerned about the financial burden but also the risk of lagging behind on the educational front. This added to the mental pressure the family had to go through.
Saina had to skip examinations twice. She was unable to take her first year intermediate exams due to the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Later, she could not write supplementary exams due to her presence in the Philippines.
Saina had achieved huge success much early in her life. Ironically, the family, despite her big success at the international level, has not been able to celebrate much.
Dr. Harvir Singh confessed that Saina had never been to any party, any restaurant or cinema for about 7 consecutive years in her life. Once, the electronic media personnel visited my home.
“I could not even offer them sweets. Do I need to explain why?” said Dr. Harvir Singh.
What’s the key to Saina’s success?
Saina Nehwal with her Family
She had a goal set in her mind and knew she had to achieve it anyhow. It is important to stick to one goal. Choosing two of them is dangerous. It is similar to chasing two rabbits. Both will escape. If you know the goal clearly, success will be yours. People with clear goals are usually successful as they know where they are going.
Saina’s rigorous training schedules were challenging for her parents too!
While Saina Nehwal was fast becoming a known name in India’s junior badminton circuit, the everyday routine of taking her for practice was quite strenuous for her parents. It was a about 25 km ride on the scooter from Rajendra Nagar to the stadium and Saina had to be there very early. This meant the child had to be up at four in the morning.
In March 2000, the family purchased a Maruti 800 car only for Saina. ‘Maruti’ is another name for Hanuman, the Monkey God, who is a symbol of strength and positive energy. Buying this car was synonymous for Saina’s steady success.
Even as Saina was steadily climbing up in the game, Harvir’s bank balance was diminishing. He rates the time between the years 1999 and 2004 as the toughest period of his life.
Dr. singh said, “I drew money from my provident fund some six times, mostly citing my wife’s illness as the reason. Everyone in the office, of course, knew what the real reason was. Sometimes, Rs 50,000,
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