Who was the first Indian to win an Olympic medal in badminton, opening India's medal account in this sport at the Games?

Introduction / Context:
Badminton has grown into one of India's strongest sports at the Olympic level, with several players winning medals in recent years. However, there was a time when India had no Olympic medals in badminton. This question focuses on the player who first broke that barrier by winning the country's inaugural Olympic badminton medal, a key landmark in Indian sports history.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question asks about the first Indian to win an Olympic medal in badminton.
- Options include four well known Indian badminton players from different eras.
- The student is assumed to know basic timeline of Indian Olympic badminton achievements.
- Medal here refers to any podium finish, not only gold.

Concept / Approach:
The crucial concept is to distinguish between great players and the first medal winner at the Olympics. Prakash Padukone and Pullela Gopichand won big titles like the All England Championship but did not win Olympic medals. Saina Nehwal won a bronze medal in women's singles at the London 2012 Olympics, which was India's first Olympic medal in badminton. P. V. Sindhu later added silver and other medals but came after Saina. Hence, the correct choice is Saina Nehwal.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: List in mind the Indian shuttlers known for major international medals. Step 2: Recall that Prakash Padukone and Pullela Gopichand won prestigious tournaments but before badminton became an Olympic medal sport success story for India. Step 3: Remember that Saina Nehwal won bronze at London 2012, giving India its first Olympic badminton medal. Step 4: Note that P. V. Sindhu won silver at Rio 2016 and later medals, which are chronologically later than Saina's bronze. Step 5: Choose Saina Nehwal as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think of news headlines from London 2012, which described Saina Nehwal as the first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal. Later coverage from Rio 2016 highlighted P. V. Sindhu as the first Indian to reach an Olympic badminton final and win silver, but always in comparison to Saina's earlier bronze. References to Padukone and Gopichand emphasise legendary status and coaching roles, not Olympic medals. This comparison confirms the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
P. V. Sindhu is a highly successful shuttler who won silver in 2016 and later medals, but she is not the first Olympic medal winner from India in badminton because Saina achieved that four years earlier.
Pullela Gopichand was an All England champion and later a famous coach, but he never won an Olympic medal as a player.
Prakash Padukone is a pioneer of Indian badminton with many titles, yet he too did not secure an Olympic medal.
Thus, while these names are important, they do not match the "first Olympic medal" condition.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates mistakenly pick P. V. Sindhu because her silver medal and world championship title received very wide publicity. Others may assume that earlier legends like Padukone must have won Olympic medals simply because they were strong players. To avoid this, students should memorise the timeline of Indian Olympic badminton medals: Saina Nehwal – first medal (bronze), P. V. Sindhu – first silver, and so on.

Final Answer:
Saina Nehwal