I stay in a small room at the academy just for the love of badminton! : Saina Nehwal

When asked how she decided to follow-through on the tough decision to move away from home and re-settle in Bangalore, “It's amusing I know, that the World No. 2 player stays in a small room just for the love of badminton! (laughs) There are so many questions in life that one does not find answers to. The same goes for me too. I still don't know why I picked up badminton as a sport. I don't know why I moved to Hyderabad from Harayana. I don't know why I shifted to Bangalore later, neither do I know how I became the World No. 1 player! They are all a mystery to me and at the same time, miraculous.”

She also revealed the sacrifices made by her family, often-missed in the background of a star's limelight life. “I do feel bad for my father because he has to manage his food and everything on his own in Hyderabad. I at least have my mother with me in Bangalore to help me out with everything. I do miss him a lot. I also miss a lot of things I had to leave behind in Hyderabad - like my cars, my dog Chopsy, and my friends,” she said.

She also called 2015 her best year so far. “Yes, I achieved many 'firsts' this year. This was the 'first' time a woman sportsperson in India won the silver at the All England Championships. The India Super Series gold was another milestone. The silver at the World Championships was first for an Indian woman athlete and, of course, I am the first woman shuttler from India to clinch the World No. 1 ranking! I was also nominated for Woman Badminton Player of the Year 2015 by the Badminton World Federation.

“Oh yes, I also defeated Carolina Marin (current World No. 1) at the BWF Superseries. Overall, this has been one of my best years on the court,” she told ToI.

When quizzed about her crediting current coach Vimal for her rise to the top and the role Gopichand played, she said, “Gopichand sir trained me for almost 10 years. I owe a lot to him for making me the player I am today. I have been training with Vimal sir since September 2014 and I am continuing with him because he has honed my skills further. I was crowned World No. 1 under Vimal sir's tutelage.”