The 14-time national champion said she is looking forward to play her role in the development of sports in the country.
The 25-year-old, who shot to fame by becoming the second Indian to win an ITTF event -- the Belgium Open in 2016, is a strong medal hope in the Gold Coast Games starting April 4. He has also won a gold in the ITTF Challenge -- Spanish Open last year in the men's singles category.
London Olympics bronze medallist Saina staved off a spirited challenge from World No 44 Mette Poulsen of Denmark 21-19, 23-21 in a 46-minute match.
Wrestlers Ravinder Khatri and Babita Kumari have secured spots at the upcoming Rio Olympics after their rivals failed a dope test, taking the total number of quota places from India to eight. Khatri was awarded the berth in the Greco-Roman 85 kg after Kenzheev Zhanarbek of Kyrgystan tested positive at the Asian Olympic qualifier. Babita gets a shot at competing in Rio with Mongolian wrestler Sumiya Erdenechimeg failing the dope test in 53 kg freestyle, also at the Asian qualifier. Last week, Vinesh Phogat clinched a gold as she and Sakshi Malik secured Rio berths in 48 and 58kg respectively at the second World Olympic Qualifying tournament in a historic feat of two Indian women wrestlers qualifying for Olympics for the first time.
India have won the men's table tennis gold beating Nigeria 3-0 in the final
The wrestlers will be in action at the same venue, where the weightlifters signed off a phenomenal campaign
India's leading squash players Dipika Pallikal and Joshna Chinappa, who couldn't see eye to eye after an acrimonious quarterfinal in the Incheon Asian Games, have buried the hatchet to be friends again ahead of a busy upcoming season.
Pallikal is aiming to create more history at the two multi-sporting events.
Dipa Karmakar, a recent recipient of the Arjuna award, is the first Indian to make enter the final of the World Championships and finished fifth in the rankings.
Indian discus thrower Seema Punia has qualified for the Rio Olympic Games with a throw of 62.62 metres.
Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat are in contention for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award
Usain Bolt, the world's fastest man, may continue competing until the 2017 world championships in London, the Jamaican has told the BBC.
Phogat sisters will have to explain their absence for any chance of a comeback, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) said
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu will start as overwhelming favourite to clinch the top prize in women's 48kg category at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast next month.
Neeraj Chopra, on Saturday, became the first Indian javelin thrower to claim a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, with a season's best effort of 86.47m in the final, in Gold Coast.
The Jamaican clocked 9.98 seconds into a slight breeze at the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial in front of a 20,000 crowd on a new track laid down the side of the infield.
Indian shuttlers continued their impressive show with top stars P V Sindhu, Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth progressing to the semifinals of their respective events in the 21st Commonwealth Games' badminton competition, in Gold Coast, on Friday.
India's shooters Apurvi Chandela and Ayonika Paul were way off the mark in the 10m Air Rifle Women's event, finishing way behind the leaders to bow out in the qualification round, at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, on Saturday.
Former World No. 1 Saina Nehwal will miss the World Championships for the first time in her international career due to multiple injuries that have derailed her season.
The Chennai paddler feels that it's about time that he changes colour of the medal to gold during the upcoming edition in Gold Coast.
Senior India hockey player Birendra Lakra was on Tuesday accused of involvement in the murder of his childhood friend Anand Toppo by the father of the deceased.
Haryana wrestler Sakshi Malik has come a long way in her fairy-tale journey to etch her name in the sporting history of the country.
Known for his Zen-like poise and preparation bordering on self-flagellation, the Olympic gold medallist shooter has mastered the art of defying expectations from a nation of 1.2 billion that has rarely tasted success in Olympic sport.
India's top squash player and Chennai resident Dipika Pallikal today pledged a contribution of Rs 2 lakh to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund in the wake of the devastating floods that have hit the city and the state.
Banned from competition for a year, Asian Games bronze medallist L Sarita Devi said she would utilise the period by taking corrective measures in her technique so that she can be ready for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
As another eventful year draws to a close, Rediff.com gives you a pictorial look back at the best and worst moments that shaped the sports stories this year.
India's biggest medal hope Jitu Rai got a wake-up call when he finished eighth in the finals as the much-fancied shooters drew a blank in the pistol events at the Olympics, in Rio de Janeiro, on Sunday.
Rahi Sarnobat beat all expectations to become India's first woman shooter with an Asian Games gold and the low-profile wushu players delivered their best ever performance even in defeat on another high-yielding day for the country at the regional showpiece.
India's Siril Verma climbed a whopping 11 rungs to take the number one spot in the junior men's singles category of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings on Thursday.
India's Prakash Nanjappa has earned a quota place for the 2016 Rio Olympics after finishing eighth in the finals of 50-metre men's pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Gabala, Azerbaijan.
Dutee Chand qualified for Rio Olympics in the women's 100m event after meeting the qualification mark at XXVI International Meeting G.Kosanov Memorial in Almaty.
Satwik Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty claimed India's first ever medal in men's doubles after settling for a silver at the 21st Commonwealth Games' badminton competition, in Gold Coast, on Sunday.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Thursday.
The sheer diversity of medal winners was a heartwarming aspect of the Games for India. There were medals from squash, although not gold, there were nine medals from boxing, 12 from wrestling, 16 from shooting and nine from weightlifting.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Monday
Turning 23 on the day of the preliminary round, Pranati will look to make the finals and emulate Dipa Karmakar, who won a historic bronze in Glasgow four years ago.
The focus is firmly trained on teen sensation Manu Bhaker as the fancied Indian shooting team eyes a head start at the 21st Commonwealth Games
Terry Walsh quit as coach of India's men's hockey team on Tuesday after his demands were not met by Hockey India and the Sports Authority of India. The 60-year-old Australian, who guided India to the men's hockey gold at the Incheon Asian Games, however, said he could return if his demands are met.
Yuki Bhambri advanced to the singles second round of the ATP Tashkent Open and reached the doubles quarter-finals, partnering compatriot Divij Sharan, following an upset victory over the top seeds on Tuesday.
Forced to take the legal route after being denied the honour initially, Indian boxer Manoj Kumar will be bestowed the Arjuna Award as the Sports Ministry has finally accepted his nomination.
