Indian Women Are Good with Racquet

Indian women are not famous from their achievements in sport. They more recognized by the world from the showbiz, as Indian women have their own natural beauty and curvy body. We have familiar with many famous figures from entertainment world, such as Aishwarya Rai, Katrina Kaif, Kareena Kapoor, Freida Pinto, Zuleikha Robinson, Padma Lakshmi, etc. Now, who're Indian female athletes that known by the world?

Even though Indian no.1 sport is cricket, apparently the most famous female athletes come from racquet (or racket) sports. Racket sports are including tennis, table tennis, squash, and badminton. Here are some noticeable Indian sportswomen, who's not just talented, but also beautiful as well:


Sania Mirza (Tennis)

Although international tennis fans always consider Sania Mirza as a overrated player, to Indian people she is a local hero. She is the first ever Indian to break into the top 30 WTA rankings. Sania Mirza has been awarded Padma Shri and Arjun Award by the Indian government.

On her best performance, Sania Mirza can defeated many world's top players, such as Svetlana Kuznetsova and Martina Hingis. Unfortunately, her lack of consistency only granted her 1 WTA title and the world's highest rank of 27 throughout her career. Per 4 July 2011, her WTA rank is 63.

Born 15 November 1986, Sania Mirza has never passed higher than 4th round in any grand slam tournaments. Her best achievement came from mixed double, when she won the 2009 Australian Open, paired with Indian tennis legend, Mahesh Bhupathi.


Neha Aggarwal (Table Tennis / Ping-Pong)

Neha Aggarwal is an Indian table tennis player who participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, the only woman from India to feature in that discipline. Her career highlights are including gold medal in 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games, bronze medal in 2009 Commonwealth Championships in Glasgow, 4 times Junior National Champion, and bronze medal in 2006 Asian Championship.

Neha Aggarwal probably hasn't made anything extraordinary with her table-tennis career. But since age still on her side (born January 11, 1990), only she can set limit to her future achievements.


Joshna Chinappa (Squash)


Squash is probably not a popular sport, as it's usually only played for fun, not as a professional sport. But since the IOC is still recognized it and remains in contention for incorporation in next Olympic program, Squash is probably gonna have a better future.

While Joshna Chinappa is nicknamed as "The Sania Mirza of Squash". She was the first Indian girl to win the British Squash Championship title in 2003 in the under 19 category, at Sheffield, U.K, and was also the youngest Indian women's national champion. The 1986-born athlete world's highest ranking is 31.



Saina Nehwal (Badminton)


Saina Nehwal is arguably the best female badminton player that India ever produced. She is the first Indian woman to reach the singles quarterfinals at the Olympics, and the first Indian to win the World Junior Badminton Championships. In 2009, Saina Nehwal also made history for her country, as she became the first Indian to win a Super Series tournament, by clinching the Indonesia Open. After this title, she won the Singapore Open, Indonesia Open, and Hong Kong Super Series, all in the year 2010, which granted her the world's no.2 rank in December 2010.

Because of injury, Sania Nehwal hasn't won any Super Series title this year, which results in her rank dropped to 6th, per 1 July 2011. But since she still so young (born March 17, 1990), Sania Nehwal is Indian biggest hope for elite titles, whether it's world's no.1, All England, Olympic gold medal, or World Championship title.


Jwala Gutta (Badminton)

The 1983-born Jwala Gutta can be considered as Indian best player for women's double badminton. The left-handed player used to pair with Shruti Kurien, and later Ashwini Ponnappa. She has won the National Badminton Championships thirteen times until 2010. Her international titles are including a Gold medal in Mixed and Women's Doubles in Commonwealth Games 2010. Her highest world's ranking is 6th, while per 23 June 2011 she was ranked in 21th.

Caroline Wozniacki Loves Liverpool

There was an interesting view in the court during the quarter-final of WTA Qatar Ladies Open in Doha, 24 February 2011. Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki was doing warm-up to preparing her match against Flavia Pennetta from Italy. What made it unusual sight was Wozniacki wore Liverpool football jersey above her tennis uniform!

Just couple of days before, Caroline Wozniacki tweeted that she got the jersey, which was personally signed by Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrad, from her friend. As an avid Liverpool fan, she immediately posted her pics with the jersey on Twitter and then wear it on tennis court later.

Just a while ago the current world's no.1 woman tennis player received Fernando Torres' jersey and said that he was her favorite footballer. But after Torres decided to move to Chelsea in January transfer window, she probably has broken hearted too and chose Steven Gerrad as her new idol.

In response to this, major betting site Ladbrokes gives 10/1 that Carloine Wozniacki dates a Liverpool player by the end of this year. Who will be the lucky guy? Obviously not Gerrad, because he's married and known as a family man.

Maria Sharapova Hot New Tennis Outfit

Maria Sharapova's journey in her first 2011 grand slam, Australian Open, was ended prematurely. Seeded at 14th place, she only managed to went through fourth round, defeated straight set by the 30th seeded, Andrea Petkovic. Although unsatisfactory, Maria Sharapova was able to made a sweet revenge, not in term of achievement, but in fashion.

Maria Sharapova's tennis outfit for 2010 Australia Open was a disaster. Fans and critics said the dress looks like a curtain! But this year, Sharapova and Nike make a huge improvement. The grey and orange dress with racing back and adjustable straps is one of the outfits from her 2011 Nike collection and is unusually traditional for the tennis player who has a reputation for daring outfits.

The Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova signed an eight-year contract with Nike worth 43 million pounds last year, making her the world''s most lucratively endorsed sportswoman. Let's see if she can come back to her best performance with the new outfit. World's no.1 in 2005, she's currently on 13th in January 2011 WTA ranking.

Maria Sharapova 2010 Australia Open Outfit

Rafael Nadal and Lindsey Vonn Win 2011 Laureus Awards

The Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal won the Sportsman of The Year, while the American skiing athlete Lindsey Vonn won the Sportswoman of The Year. Those are the top honors of 2011 Laureus World Sports Awards.

Established in 1999, Laureus World Sports Awards are awarded annually to sportspeople who have been outstanding during the previous year. This year event, which was held in Abu Dhabi on 7 February 2011, also chose Spain World Cup winner as World Team of The Year.

Rafael Nadal is the winner of three Grand Slam titles in 2010. He beat other nominees including Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao and Barcelona footballers Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi.


Lindsey Vonn, winner of the women's downhill at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games and a third consecutive overall World Cup title, took the sportswoman's award. Among the other nominees are high jumper Blanka Vlasic and tennis players Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters and Caroline Wozniacki.



These are the complete list of 2011 Laureus Award Winners:

World Sportsman of the Year: Rafael Nadal (Spain)

World Sportswoman of the Year: Lindsey Vonn (US)

World Team of the Year: Spain World Cup Team

World Breakthrough of the Year: Martin Kaymer (Germany)

World Comeback of the Year: Valentino Rossi (Italy)

World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Verena Bentele (Germany)

World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Kelly Slater (US)

Lifetime Achievement Award: Zinedine Zidane (France)

Spirit of Sport Award: European Ryder Cup team

Sport for Good Award: May El-Khalil, founder of the Beirut Marathon

Andre Agassi Shows Steffi Graf Naked Picture for Charity

During an attempt to raise money at a charity auction in Taiwan, former no.1 ATP tennis player Andre Agassi promised bidders that he would show a picture of his wife with no clothes on. “You pay more than $4,000, and I will show you a picture of my wife, on my phone, naked,” Agassi said as held up a plate to bid on. Agassi's wife, former no.1 WTA tennis player Steffi Graf, is also known as one of the sexiest athletes ever, and he knows to well how to use his wife's popularity.

As seen in the video below, Andre Agassi appears to have showed the pic to the winning bidder, who seemed to have a funny shocking expression. Probably it was the picture of Steffi Graf nude when she was still a newborn baby, or maybe there was no picture at all.

Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf met after they both won the 1999 French Open, and began dating shortly after. They were married on October 22, 2001 with one son and one daughter. We wonder what Graf would say to her husband if that was really her naked photo that he showed. Well, at least it was for a good cause, right?