India badminton star Saina Nehwal invites 'Mirzya' actor Saiyami Kher for a match after learning that they had once played against each other at a junior national event in Thane
Coming soon to a badminton court near you: Saina Nehwal vs Saiyami Kher
Saina Nehwal
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India badminton star Saina Nehwal is always up for a match — even when she is injured.
Nehwal, currenly recuperating from a knee injury, which she suffered at the Rio Olympics, has called upon actor Saiyami Kher for a game. Kher, who is originally from Nasik and made her Bollywood debut recently in 'Mirzya', is a former junior national level badminton player and has also played cricket at the state level.
Recently, Hazel-eyed 24-year-old Saiyami took to Twitter to reveal that she had played against Saina in a badminton tournament. “Jr. Open Nationals in Thane where everyone was dreading having @NSaina in the same draw! 3 & 2 of the toughest points I’ve earned in my life,” Saiyami posted in reference to a match she played with India’s top shutter during her junior days.
Jr. Open Nationals in Thane where everyone was dreading having @NSaina in the same draw!3 & 2 of the toughest points iv earned in my life :) https://t.co/xiaaNuythv
— Saiyami Kher (@SaiyamiKher) November 5, 2016
Saina immediately responded with the idea of playing a match
HahaðÂÂu00c2u009fÂÂu00c2u0098ÂÂu00c2u009cðÂÂu00c2u009fÂÂu00c2u0098ÂÂu00c2u009cnice to know this Saiyami .... Let us have a match again.Congratulations for the new movie ðÂÂu00c2u009fÂÂu00c2u0091ÂÂu00c2u008dðÂÂu00c2u009fÂÂu00c2u0091ÂÂu00c2u008d https://t.co/RfwZETaJTw
— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) November 5, 2016
Saiyami while thanking Saina for the opportunity, joked that she could win two points if the badminton ace played as a leftie.
Thankyou @NSaina :) Would love to play. I think I'll manage 2 points if you play with your left hand! https://t.co/jUYoQqmpKk
— Saiyami Kher (@SaiyamiKher) November 6, 2016
Saina was two years Saiyami's senior and they had faced off in the under-16 category at the National Junior badminton tournament.
Saina Nehwal had once revealed that she wanted actress Deepika Padukone to portray her if a a biopic was made on herself. Will she change her opinion now? Will Saiyami get to play Saina in the biopic? Only time will tell.
Saiyami Kher
Saiyami has acting lineage though, and not a sporting one. She is the granddaughter of late yesteryear actress Usha Kiran, who acted in Hindi and Marathi films. Her grandmom is best remembered for films like Daag (1952) with Dilip Kumar and Patita (1953), which starred Dev Anand. Usha Kiran was also the Sheriff of Mumbai in the late 1990s. Saiyami's parents, Adwait Kher and Uttara Mhatre (a beauty pageant winner) were well-known models in the eighties. Her aunt is actress Tanvi Azmi, sister-in-law to Shabana Azmi.