Coming from a nation obsessed with football and which has Rafael Nadal for a sporting icon besides world renowned golfers, catching the attention of Spaniards was never going to be an easy task.
But with consistent hard work and a strong desire to excel, Carolina Marin has carved a niche for herself, with her performances doing the talking for her.
The 20-year-old, who broke into the top-20 of the badminton rankings after her quarter-final show at the World Championships earlier this month, is fast becoming the talent to watch on the international circuit.
In the ongoing Indian Badminton League, Marin, who turns out for Banga Beats defeated the fancied P.V. Sindhu of Awadhe Warriors on Sunday to underline her growing prowess in the game.
The soft-spoken lass, currently ranked 19th in the world, has moved on from the memorable win and is now looking forward to piloting her team’s fortunes.
Speaking about the match against Sindhu, the Bengaluru franchises’ first choice women’s singles player said, “It was an amazing win against a good player like Sindhu. It was very motivating and I’m now looking forward to doing well for my team in the remaining matches.”
The Spanish national champion, who has a good run on the international circuit this year, has also been part of the Spanish and Danish Leagues in the past.
Comparing the European leagues with the inaugural IBL, the Huelva-born shuttler, who cannot cope with the spice in Indian food said, “The IBL is very different from the other leagues that I have played.
“Here the league is bigger and I’m getting to play alongside some of the best in the world. Also we at the Banga Beats have a huge fan support who turn up for all our matches. They make the atmosphere electrifying.”
Marin, who has the Taj Mahal, among her wish-list, time permitting, was all praise for her team coach U. Vimal Kumar.