"It's welcome news. She is the first woman player to become World No.1. Prakash (Padukone) had already become World No.1 (among men)," Pawar told PTI, while reacting to the development.
"This year, she has achieved three new feats. The first feat she achieved this year was to win the China Open as very few outsiders have done it. The second was in reaching All England final and now becoming the No.1. It has been an exceptionally good year for Saina," said Pawar.
"That has happened because Vimal has made a lot of changes in her game. Basically her smash has improved, she is hitting harder and her net game has improved a lot. These new dimensions have made a big difference," said Pawar.
"She had always lost to Wang Yihan (of China), but this time she won in straight games at the All England. The way she was playing earlier, all players knew how to play against her as her attack was not so good then.
He said Saina would not be satisfied with only becoming No.1 and a lot more could be expected from her in the future.
"I think she looks very determined and won't be satisfied with no 1. We can expect better results. Though she lost in the All England final she dominated for one and a half games (against Spain's world champion Carolina Marin). Only a lapse in concentration saw her lose her grip.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
