India's golden girl is the highest earning non-cricketing athlete. The year 2012 was a standout year for her: She won India's first Olympic medal in badminton, the Indonesia Super Series, the Denmark Open, the Swiss Open and the Thailand Open, finishing the year ranked third in the world. The question is, can she be the catalyst that propels badminton towards being India's next commercial sport? If she can spearhead the Indian Badminton League, the sport can grow around her.
Fast Facts : A blockbuster deal with sports management firm Rhiti Sports and some nine endorsement deals cemented her place as one of India's most marketable superstars.