Saina Nehwal, a name synonymous with badminton excellence in India, has recently found herself at the center of a controversy stemming from a startling admission on a podcast. The 34-year-old, a three-time Olympian and a decorated athlete with multiple Commonwealth Games gold medals and Asian Games bronze medals, revealed that she was unaware of the javelin throw event in athletics until Neeraj Chopra’s historic Olympic gold win in Tokyo in 2021.
This revelation has sent shockwaves through the sporting community, given Nehwal’s extensive experience in competing at international multidisciplinary events since the 2006 Commonwealth Games. It’s worth noting that Neeraj Chopra’s rise to prominence began much earlier than his Olympic victory. He had already claimed the junior world championship title in 2016, followed by Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold medals in 2018. Prior to his silver medal at the recent Paris Olympics, where he narrowly missed defending his title, Neeraj clinched the world championship title in Budapest in 2023.
Nehwal’s comment, appearing in a teaser for an upcoming podcast episode, has sparked widespread criticism and disbelief. Many have pointed out the discrepancy between her knowledge of different sporting events and her extensive involvement in multidisciplinary competitions. While some have defended Nehwal, stating that her comment may have been taken out of context, the incident has undoubtedly raised eyebrows and highlighted a potential lack of awareness regarding other sports within the Indian sporting landscape. It remains to be seen how Nehwal will address this controversy and whether it will have any lasting impact on her image and legacy.
