Dhanya Nair

Dhanya Nair (born 16 July 1984) is an Indian professional badminton player.

Early life and education Nair was born on 16 July 1984 in Palakkad, Kerala and was brought up in Pune, Maharashta. She finished her schooling from Symbiosis and graduation in Commerce from Shivray Prathishtan Maharashtra College, Pune.

Career Nair has represented Maharashtra state in All India Badminton tournaments since 1995.

Nair dominated the 2002 season, emerging winner in the girls doubles category of ICICI Bank All India Tournament at Bangalore, the All India Junior in Thane, Sushant Chipalkatti tournament in Pune and Krishna Khaitan Memorial tournament in Chennai. She was runner-up in National Games in Hyderabad and a semi-finalist in junior nationals in Guntur. Nair won women’s doubles crown in Asian Satellite Tournament at Islamabad, Pakistan in 2004. She emerged a winner while representing Indian Railways in the World Railways Competition and repeated her performance in 2009. In the same year, she achieved a double crown, winning both the women’s singles and doubles in the Yonex Kenya International tournament at Nairobi. She was the first Indian player to achieve this feat. Together they took on French players Delphine Lansac and Emilie Lefel.

Nair and Mohita Sahdev paired up in a number of tournaments in 2015, including the Thailand International Challenge, Malaysia Masters, Syed Modi International, and broke into the top 100 in the world.

Achievements BWF International +Women's singles Year Tournament Opponent Score Result 2011 Iran Fajr International Nicole Grether 12–21, 22–24 Runner-up

+Women's doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 2009 Kenya International Anita Ohlan Michelle Claire Edwards Annari Viljoen 17–21, 21–15, 23–21 Winner 2010 Bahrain International Mohita Sahdev Charmaine Reid Nicole Grether 21–23, 11–21 Runner-up 2011 Uganda International Mohita Sahdev Özge Bayrak Öznur Çalışkan 14–21, 21–12, 14–21 Runner-up 2013 Bangladesh International Mohita Sahdev Prajakta Sawant Arathi Sara Sunil 20–22, 4–15 Runner-up BWF International Challenge tournament BWF International Series tournament BWF Future Series tournament

Awards National Level March 2017 - Kolkata All India Doubles Tournament, Silver February 2017 - Davengere All India Doubles Tournament, Silver March 2016 - Valsad All India Tournament, Silver August 2015 - Pune All India Tournament, Bronze April 2015 - Blore All India Tournament, Silver February 2015 - Senior Nationals Championships Vijayawada, Bronze December 2014 - Kochi All India Senior Tournament, Silver November 2014 - Gandhidham All India Senior Tournament, Silver October 2014 - Bhilwara All India Tournament, Bronze January 2011 - Senior Nationals Championships Rohtak, Silver in Chada Cup Feb 2010 - Senior Nationals Championship Guwahati, Bronze July 2008 - All India Major Ranking Tournament Mumbai, Women Singles & Doubles, Bronze Feb 2009 - Senior National Championship-Indore.Women’s Doubles, Silver

Inter-National Level December 2015 - Qtr-finalist at the Bangladesh International Challenge November 2015 - Qtr-finalist at the Bahrain International Challenge August 2015 - Qualified for the World Championships to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia with career best World Ranking of 68 April 2015 - Qualified for the Singapore Super Series January 2015 - Qtr-finalist at the Thailand International Challenge December 2014 - Tata International Challenge Mumbai, Bronze December 2013 - Bangladesh International Challenge, Silver March 2011 - Runners-up at the Uganda International Series in doubles and quarterfinalist in the singles match Feb 2010 - Runners-up in singles at the Iran International Challenge Dec 2010 - Runners-Up in doubles at the Bahrain International Tournament April 2009 - Winner in both the Women Singles & Doubles events in the Yonex Kenya International, Nairobi, Kenya. March 2008 - Selected to represent India at the Croatian and Portuguese International 2007 - 32nd Yonex Hungarian International Badminton Championship. Women’s Singles, Pre-quarter-finalists 2007 - Bank of Scotland Centenary International Badminton Championships, Women’s Singles, Pre-quarter-finalists 2005 & 2009 - Winner of World Railways 2007 - Winner in the All India Major Ranking Tournament at Dehradun 2004 - Winner in the Asian Satellite Tournament in Pakistan 2002 - Bronze medallist in Junior Asian Badminton Championship, Kuala Lumpur