Ace Indian shuttler and former Olympic bronze medalist Saina Nehwal has announced a difficult decision looming on the horizon: she is battling arthritis and will have to decide on her future in badminton by the end of this year. The 34-year-old former world No. 1, who etched her name in history as the first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal (bronze at London 2012), has participated in three Olympic Games before being hampered by a string of injuries.
The 2010 and 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medalist candidly acknowledged that her career is in its final leg. “The knee is not very good. I have arthritis. My cartilage has gone to a bad state. It is very difficult to push for eight-nine hours,” Nehwal shared on the ‘House of Glory’ podcast hosted by shooting great Gagan Narang. “How will you challenge the best players in the world in such a state? I think I will have to accept it somewhere. Because two hours of training is not good enough to play with the highest level of players and get the desired results,” she added.
Nehwal admitted that she is still weighing the impact retirement will have on her but acknowledged the inevitable decision that lies ahead. The trailblazing star, who is also a BJP member, was last seen in action more than a year ago in the Singapore Open where she lost in the opening round.
“I am also thinking about it (retirement). It will be sad because it is like a job that a normal person does. Obviously, a sportsperson’s career is always a short one. I started at the age of 9. I will be 35 next year,” she said. “I have also had a long career and I am very proud of that. I have broken my body to a great extent. I am happy with what I have done and given it all. (I) will assess how I feel by the end of this year,” she added.
The Padma Shri awardee expressed her deepest regret for missing the Olympics in the past two editions, a childhood dream that was cruelly denied due to her injuries. “Competing at the Olympics is a childhood dream for all. You prepare to reach that level for years. Hence, at times, when you realize you will not be able to make it, it hurts a lot,” she expressed. “Because it is not like you do not want to play, but your body is telling that you are not doing well and you have injuries.”
Nehwal, however, said she would look back at her Olympic journey with pride. “But I have done a lot of hard work. I competed in three Olympics. I gave my 100 per cent in all of them. I can take pride in that and be happy about it,” she said.
Nehwal also spoke about the relentless pressure of expectations, a burden she has carried throughout her career, not just from fans and the media but also from close friends, family, and sponsors. “When you become a big player, your friends, family, coaches, sponsors, everyone wants you to perform. There are a lot of stakeholders involved,” she said. “With already a short career span, athletes cannot afford to take a four-year break and have to keep performing continuously. If you wish to become an international champion, you have to be strong to make tough decisions,” she added.
